Anatomy
Your sacral vertebrae develop in the first and second months of embryonic development.
They form into a single bone by age 30 to complete the fusion process.
The first three vertebrae of the sacral region form the wide lateral wings called the alae.
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The alae (also called the ala or wing of sacrum) connect with the blades of pelviscalled theilium.
The sacral canal runs down the center of the sacrum, representing the end of the vertebral canal.
The five segments of the sacral vertebrae affect nerve communication to the lower part of the body.
There, numerical levels are often mentioned in imaging studies of the spine.
S1 refers to the first sacral bone, S2 to the second sacral bone, and so on.
S1 is at the top and S5 is towards the bottom.
Each number corresponds with the nerves in that part of the spinal cord.
Injuries to the sacral vertebrae are complex, often misdiagnosed, and not always appropriately treated.
Most people with sacral vertebrae injuries tend to live very normal lives.
They may need some assistance but can still do well on their own.
They mostly affect weight-bearing joints.
Any damage to these nerve roots may cause similar symptoms to those ofspinal cord damage.
People with sacral nerve injuries will have symptoms on one or both sides of their bodies.
Sacral vertebrae injuries may also cause bladder and bowel control dysfunction.
However, injuries of the sacral vertebrae arent significant enough to affect daily living and self-care.
Symptoms of cauda equina syndrome include:
The symptoms of cauda equina syndrome require immediate medical attention.
You should seek out emergency medical attention for one or more of the symptoms of this condition.
Treatment
There are treatments for sacral vertebrae injuries.
Sacral injuries can also affect the tailbone.
This pop in of injurycalledcoccydyniais likely to cause bruising, discoloration, or fracture of the tailbone.
Home treatment of sacral and tailbone injuries might be all a person needs.
However, if these fractures are severe or affect nerves, surgery might be necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are five lumbar vertebrae.
These make up the lumbar spine, which is located in the lower back above the sacrum.
The sacral region is located at the end of the spine in the pelvic area.
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