Bertolotti Syndrome
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Patients with Bertolotti syndrome who have an assimilation joint are examined pre- and postoperatively using the German Pain Questionnaire, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Roland and Morris
Sponsors
Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: • Diagnosis of Bertolotti syndrome: Confirmation of the anatomical abnormality using imaging techniques such as X-ray, CT, or MRI. • Symptomatic presentation: Patients exhibit significant symptoms associated with Bertolotti syndrome, e.g., chronic back pain, sciatica, or neurological symptoms. • Failure of conservative treatments: Non-surgical treatment methods (e.g., physical therapy, pain therapy) have not provided sufficient relief of symptoms, and trial infiltration of the assimilation joint has shown a >50% improvement in symptoms. • Age and general health: Patients over 18 years of age with a health condition that allows surgery • Consent for CT-guided resection of the assimilation joint as part of routine clinical practice.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: • Lack of symptomatic presentation: Patients who do not exhibit significant symptoms associated with Bertolotti syndrome. • Inadequate conservative treatment: If insufficient time has been invested in conservative treatments (e.g., physical therapy, pain therapy, or infiltrations). • Presence of serious comorbidities: e.g., severe cardiovascular disease with significantly increased surgical risks. • Neurological deficits: Pre-existing neurological diseases or deficits that are independent of Bertolotti syndrome. • Age and general health: advanced age or poor general health. • Missing consent to the questionnaire survey • Mental illness: existing mental illness that could impair understanding or consent to surgery. • Unrealistic expectations: Patients who have unrealistic expectations of the outcome of assimilation joint resection or who are unwilling to comply with postoperative check-ups will be excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Pain reduction, measured using the VAS, by >50% compared to preoperative findings three months postoperatively. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Functional improvement three months postoperatively. Assessment of physical function using the ODI and RMDQ to measure the impact on daily activities. | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactChristian-Andreas Müller
Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Klinik für Neurochirurgie
Outcome results
None listed