Congenital anomalies of spine

Specific birth defects which can occur, but certainly are not limited to the following list, may include such congenital anomalies of spine (or vertebral anomalies) as fused ribs, or missing vertebrae, particularly in the spinal region. Some patients that have fused ribs must undergo replacement of the ribs with titanium ribs, if their ribcages do not grow with the rest of the body. The titanium ribs may have to be replaced multiple times throughout a patient’s lifetime. If the sacral vertebrae are missing, it generally causes no ill effect on the patient.

Vertebral anomalies is associated with an increased incidence of some other specific anomalies as well, together being called the VACTERL association: