A Case Study of Bertolotti's Syndrome in an Adolescent Patient

Bertolotti's syndrome is a condition characterized by mechanical low back pain due to a congenital transitional lumbosacral segment of L5-S1. Diagnosis can be challenging for physicians because it requires the presence of both a transitional vertebrae and pain that is directly attributed to this genetic anomaly. This case report describes an adolescent case of Bertolotti's syndrome seen in a 17-year-old male who presents with several months of low back pain associated with squatting and bending over. His pain was ultimately diagnosed through lumbar radiographs, which demonstrated a transitional L5 vertebrae. Treatment of Bertolotti's syndrome is dependent on the severity of the symptoms, with options starting conservatively through the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and lifestyle modifications to invasive approaches such as nerve ablation or surgical spinal fusion. Bertolotti's syndrome is rarely diagnosed in children, as most cases of pain begin in early adulthood. However, early recognition in young patients allows for more precisely guided treatments and optimal pain management.