Tanzania						                            
                            
						
 Research Article
												Use of the Thoracolumbar Facet Transition as a Method of Identifying the T12 Segment 						
Author(s): Scott E Forseen, Bruce C, Gilbert, Sumir Patel, Juan Ramirez and Neil M BordenScott E Forseen, Bruce C, Gilbert, Sumir Patel, Juan Ramirez and Neil M Borden             
						
												
				 Purpose: Evaluate the reliability of the change from the flat, posterolaterally oriented facets of the thoracic segments to the curved, posteromedially oriented facets of the lumbar spine, the “facet transition”, as a marker for the T12 segment and determine if variations in rib number are associated with lumbosacral transitional segments.
Materials and methods: 244 patients underwent whole spine CT examinations and the positions of the thoracolumbar facet transition, type of thoracolumbar facet transition (gradual or abrupt), position of the lowest thoracic ribs, and presence or absence of lumbosacral transitional anatomy were recorded. A Fisher Exact Test was used to determine if there was an association between a variant number of ribs and transitional anatomy at the lumbosacral junction.
Results: Th.. Read More»
				  
												DOI:
												 10.4172/2165-7939.1000222 
																	  
Journal of Spine received 2022 citations as per Google Scholar report