Pediatric Back Pain Associated with Bertolotti Syndrome: A Report of 3 Cases with Varying Treatment Strategies

Three pediatric patients with back pain associated with Bertolotti syndrome are presented. After failing conservative management, 1 patient underwent mega-apophysis resection, another underwent resection with decompression, and the final underwent posterior fusion. All patients had complete resolution of back pain and returned to full activity at final follow-up.

Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae are congenital anomalies spanning a spectrum from partial/complete L5 sacralization to partial/complete S1 lumbarization with varying clinical presentations. Identification of variable anatomy and symptoms guides surgical management. We present 3 cases with differing surgical techniques including pseudoarticulation resection, arthrodesis of the involved levels, and neuroforaminal decompression.