Computerized tomography, clinical and X-ray correlations in the hemisacralized fifth lumbar vertebra.

One hundred and twenty patients with hemisacralization of the L5 vertebra associated with LBP underwent clinical, conventional X-ray and CT examinations. More than 50% of the patients had scoliosis. One third of the patients had disc lesions. Sacroiliac joint sclerosis was noted in two thirds of the cases. Almost all patients had an articulation between the hemisacralized side of L5 and the sacrum, which usually showed degenerative changes. Clinical symptoms are correlated to the CT and X-ray findings.