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Butterfly vertebra: a case report
B Sonel1, P Yalçin, E A Oztürk
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey. bsonel@yahoo.com
Clinical Imaging
|October 27, 2001
Summary
Butterfly vertebra, a rare congenital anomaly, is often an incidental finding. This case highlights its association with disc protrusion, suggesting a potential link to altered spinal biomechanics and increased herniation risk.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Developmental Biology
- Radiology
Background:
- Butterfly vertebra is a rare congenital vertebral anomaly.
- It is often associated with various genetic syndromes.
- Literature reports few cases, typically as incidental findings.
Observation:
- A 37-year-old male presented with an L3 butterfly vertebra.
- This anomaly was incidentally found alongside an L4-L5 disc protrusion.
- The patient's presentation is unusual given the typically asymptomatic nature of this condition.
Findings:
- The study describes a rare case of butterfly vertebra.
- The anomaly was associated with a lumbar disc protrusion.
- This case suggests a potential link between butterfly vertebra and disc herniation.
Implications:
- Increased awareness of butterfly vertebra is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
- This anomaly may alter spinal biomechanics.
- Butterfly vertebra might contribute to a higher incidence of disc herniation.