Incidence of Unusual Sacralization and Lumbarization in Southern Adult Nigerian Population

Abstract

A study on the incidence of unusual sacralization in adult Nigerians was carried out, using sacral bones and radiographs of lumbosacral vertebrae. The bones were obtained from three Nigerian universities which are: University of Port Harcourt, Nnamdi Azikiwe University and University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. The radiographs were gotten from: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital and Seiyefa Clinic, Port Harcourt. Thirty (30) available sacra were taken and observed to note the number of sacralization and lumbarization in male and female bones. Randomly selected lumbosacral radiographs of patients were collected from Radiology Department of the three Hospitals in a two-year period (2006-2007). The X-ray reports were noted and observed. Results revealed that sacralization in males was higher (62.5%) than in females (37.5%) and generally the ratio of sacralization is twice in percentage to lumbarization. Therefore, it is apparent that the condition of sacralization is real, however it is a rare condition that can only be seen through radiograph and does not affect normal life expectancy.