Vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction: A quantitative assessment using CT scans.

The thoracolumbar junction is often associated with traumatic injuries, due to its biomechanical instability. Reasons for this instability are currently still under debate; however, contributing factors such as the rapid change in spinal curvature and facet orientation from the thoracic to lumbar transition have been implicated. Normally, the superior facet orientation in the thoracic region is angled in a coronal plane, whereas vertebrae in the lumbar region have facets angled in the sagittal plane.

Differentiation and classification of thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae.

The literature states that transitional vertebrae at any junction are characterized by features retained from two adjacent regions in the vertebral column. Currently, there is no published literature available that describes the prevalence or morphology of thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae (TLTV). The aim of this study was to identify the qualitative characteristics of transitional vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction and establish a technique to differentiate the various subtypes that may be found.