Small pediatric Bertolotti syndrome review proposes a treatment pathway
Published reports described symptom improvement after several approaches, but the abstract does not establish which treatment works best.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
This review organized published experience with diagnosing and treating Bertolotti syndrome in children and adolescents. All included patients reportedly had some or complete symptom relief, but treatments varied and the abstract describes no comparison group. The proposed pathway is therefore a synthesis of limited experience, not evidence that a particular sequence produces the best outcomes.
The evidence covers a very small pediatric group. Follow-up length, standardized symptom scores and adverse events are not reported in the abstract, limiting conclusions about lasting benefit and comparative safety.
What researchers found
Presenting symptoms
Reported for all included patients after varied treatments; no comparison group or follow-up duration was described.
What the reports contained
Lower back pain was the main presenting symptom, and some reports also described radiating pain. Evaluations used imaging and targeted injections, while treatments ranged from physical therapy and other conservative measures to spinal operations.
Interpreting the proposed sequence
The authors' pathway begins with conservative care and considers surgery for persistent symptoms. This sequence was proposed from the reviewed literature; the abstract does not describe a trial comparing it with another management strategy.
The original publication
Bertolotti Syndrome in the Pediatric Population: A Literature Review and Management Algorithm.
Gabriel DC, Liu DS, Ang B et al.
J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40923901
- Record checked
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