Castellvi classification of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody ◉ and Dr Ayush Goel et al.

The Castellvi classification is used for lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV):

type I: enlarged and dysplastic transverse process (at least 19 mm)
- Ia: unilateral
- Ib: bilateral
type II: pseudoarticulation of the transverse process and sacrum with incomplete lumbarization/sacralization; enlargement of the transverse process with pseudoarthrosis
- IIa: unilateral
- IIb: bilateral
type III: transverse process fuses with the sacrum and there is complete lumbarization or sacralization, enlarged transverse process with complete fusion
- IIIa: unilateral
- IIIb: bilateral
type IV: type IIa on one side and type III on the contralateral side

History and etymology

This classification system was initially described by Castellvi et al in 1984, in a study examining the association of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae with herniated lumbar discs ³.

Related pathology

Bertolotti syndrome

References

Anatomy: Spine

osteology
intervertebral disc
- annulus fibrosus
- nucleus pulposus
articulations
ligaments
musculature of the vertebral column
- muscles of the neck
- muscles of the back
  - suboccipital muscle group
    - rectus capitis posterior major muscle
    - rectus capitis posterior minor muscle
    - obliquus capitis superior muscle
    - obliquus capitis inferior muscle
  - splenius capitis muscle
  - splenius cervicis muscle
  - erector spinae group
  - transversospinalis group
  - quadratus lumborum
spinal meninges and spaces
spinal cord
- gross anatomy
- white matter tracts (white matter)
  - corticospinal tract
  - anterolateral columns
  - lateral columns
  - dorsal columns
    - fasiculus gracilis (column of Goll)
    - fasiculus cuneatus (column of Burdach)
- grey matter
- nerve root
  - conjoined nerve root
- central canal
- functional anatomy
  - thoracic autonomic outflow
  - sacral autonomic outflow
- spinal cord blood supply
  - arteries
    - vertebral artery
      - anterior spinal artery
        sulcal artery
      - posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)
        posterior spinal arteries
    - segmental arteries
      - artery of Adamkiewicz
  - veins
    - spinal segmental veins
      - vertebral venous plexus
      - Batson venous plexus
sympathetic chain
- stellate ganglion

Article information

rID: 24141

System: Musculoskeletal, Spine

Section: Classifications

Tag: cases, refs, cases, spine, variant

Synonyms or Alternate Spellings:

Castellvi classification
Castellvi's classification
Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (Castellvi classification)

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Cases and figures

Figure 1: normalFigure 1: normal

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Case 1: Castellvi type IaCase 1: Castellvi type Ia

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Figure 2: type 1aFigure 2: type 1a

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Case 2: Castellvi IIaCase 2: Castellvi IIa

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Figure 3: type 1bFigure 3: type 1b

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Case 3: Castellvi type IIaCase 3: Castellvi type IIa

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Figure 4: type 2aFigure 4: type 2a

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Case 4: Castellvi IIbCase 4: Castellvi IIb

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Figure 5: type 2bFigure 5: type 2b

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Case 5: Castellvi type IIIbCase 5: Castellvi type IIIb

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Figure 6: type 3aFigure 6: type 3a

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Figure 7: type 3bFigure 7: type 3b

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