Thoracic vertebral synostosis & its clinical importance

Abstract

Background: Thoracic vertebral synostosis is of interest not only to the anatomist but also to surgeons, neurologist, orthopedician, radiologist, anaesthetics and for forensic medicine also. Various vertebral anomalies have been reported by different authors such as Sacralisation, Lumbarisation, Occipitalisation, absence of posterior elements of vertebral arch and vertebral synostosis. Methods: The present study was conducted on 408 dry adult human vertebrae of unknown age and sex obtained from the Department of Anatomy, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Phulwari-Sharif, Patna. Result: According to our study, we found presence of one set of fused 4th and 5^th thoracic vertebrae (2.94%), one set of 5^th to 8^th thoracic vertebrae (2.94%). Out of 34 sets of vertebral columns we got 2 sets of fused thoracic vertebrae 5.88%. 2 sets of fused thoracic vertebrae presents ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. Conclusions: Knowledge about any deviation from the normal anatomy of vertebral column can lead to major or minor complications affecting the different system of the body. This study is also clinically important as they might be associated with genitourinary, neurological and musculoskeletal abnormalities.