Fact-sheet: Butterfly vertebra


Updated on 03/30/2022 at 5:06 PM

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Definition

Vertebral morphological anomaly secondary to a fusion defect of the hemivertebrae due to persistence of notochordal tissue between them.

Multiple vertebrae are affected in 40% of cases

Clinical features

Multiple associations have been described:

  • Anterior spina bifida +/- anterior meningocele
  • Alagille syndrome
  • Crouzon syndrome
  • Pfeiffer syndrome
  • Jarcho-Levin syndrome
  • VACTERL

Radiography

Widening of the vertebral body with two hemivertebrae separated by a +/- complete defect.

The morphology of the adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae adapts to that of the butterfly vertebra