Lumbar spine in Marfan syndrome

Abstract

Lumbar spine radiographs of 28 patients with Marfan syndrome and a gender and age-matched control group were evaluated for scoliosis and morphologic changes of the L2, L3, and L4 vertebrae. No patient or control subject had any serious low back problems. The Marfan patients showed a high incidence of scoliosis (64%). The incidence of lumbosacral transitional vertebra was also high (18%). The end plates of the vertebral bodies in the Marfan patients were more biconcave than in the control group. In addition, the transverse processes were longer in relation to the vertebral body width in the Marfan group than in the controls. These findings indicate that biconcave vertebral bodies can be added to the list of skeletal manifestations of the Marfan syndrome, and Marfan syndrome to the list of differential diagnoses for biconcave vertebrae ("codfish vertebrae").

Spinal and pelvic parameters in Marfan’s syndrome and their relevance to surgical planning

“…Our 56% incidence of scoliosis compares with 55% reported by Robbins et al, 3 63% by Sponseller et al 2 and 64% by Tallroth et al 4 The distribution of the different types of scoliosis was diverse, but with a predilection for thoracic localisation. The distribution of thoracic and double thoracic curvatures is comparable with those previously reported.…”

“…1 Spinal deformities are frequently encountered in patients with Marfan's syndrome. [2][3][4] The spinal balance and the pelvic parameters are fundamental elements in both the analysis of such deformities and in the choice of appropriate treatment. 5 In the morphological classification defined by Sponseller et al 2 for patients with Marfan's syndrome, two groups of spinal profiles are identified.…”

The lumbar interpediculate distance is widened in adults with the Marfan syndrome: Data from 32 cases

“…Sponseller et al (1995Sponseller et al ( , 1997 showed that in children with Marfan, spine exhibits irregular patterns of scoliosis and kyphosis. Likewise Tallroth et al (1995) observed that the lumbar spine in Marfan has a high prevalence of developmental anomalies such as biconcave vertebrae, transition vertebrae, and lengthened transverse process distance. 5 of our patients had transition vertebrae.…”

Pregnancy and Childbirth in Patients With Syndrome-Marfan

“…7 In the spine, scoliosis and spondylolisthesis are described. 8 c. In the nervous system, dural ectasia (inflation of the bag of the dura and the vertebral canal together possibly swelling sheaths spinal nerves) 9 affects the spinal canal in all degrees of the spine, often in the lumbosacral region and can manifest with headache, back pain, damage of muscle power and limiting the sensation of the legs and pain in the anal region and external genital organs are deteriorating in the supine and enhances the prone (face down) bed. 10 Each patient escorted by Marfan syndrome with related clinical signs should be tested for possible dural ectasia using computational or MRI.…”