The effectiveness of preoperative assessment using a patient-specific three-dimensional pseudoarticulation model for minimally invasive posterior resection in a patient with Bertolotti’s syndrome: a case report

BACKGROUND: Bertolotti’s syndrome is widely known to cause low back pain in young patients and must be considered as a differential diagnosis. Its treatment such as conservative therapy or surgery remains controversial. Surgical procedure is recommended for intractable low back pain. The three-dimensional (3D) lumbosacral transitional vertebrae anatomy should be completely understood for a successful surgery. Using an intraoperative 3D navigation and preoperative preliminary surgical planning with a patient-specific 3D plaster model contribute for safe surgery and good outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of a 22-year-old Japanese male patient with intractable left low back pain due to lumbosacral transitional vertebrae with Bertolotti’s syndrome. The symptom resisted the conservative treatment, and anesthetic injection at pseudoarticulation only provided a short-term pain relief. Posterior resection using intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) navigation has been performed through microendoscopic view. Pseudoarticulation was totally and successfully resected in a safe manner. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative surgical planning and rehearsal using a patient-specific 3D plaster model was greatly useful and effective for surgeons in performing accurate and safe pseudoarticulation resection.