RADIOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LUMBAR SPINE IN THE SAGITTAL PLAN
Güvenir OKCU1, Hüseyin YERCAN1, İlginç YORULMAZ2, Serkan ERKAN1, Uğur ÖZİÇ1
1Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dalı, Manisa
2Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Manisa
Keywords: Lumbar Lordosis, Radiographical Analysis.
Abstract
Objective: To establish the normal alignment of the lumbar spine in the sagittal plane. Design: Cross-sectional clinical study. Introduction: Understanding of the normal alignment of the lumbar spine in the sagittal plane and the range of the lumbar lordosis is necessary in assessing pathologic conditions.
Patients and methods: A standard standing anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine were obtained in 130 young men who had no history of back pain and/or lower back problems. 10 men were excluded from the study because of structural scoliosis and spondylolisthesis. Sacrohorizontal angle, lumbosacral joint angle and sacral inclination were measured with Cobb method by two orthopaedic surgeons independently. Two methods were used for the evaluation lumbar lordosis: 1. From the superior endplate of L1 to the superior endplate of L5 2. From the superior endplate of L1 to the inferior endplate of L5.
Results: Lumbar lordosis averaged 32,36°± 9,82° and -47,74°± 13,28° respectively. The degree of sacral inclination averaged 49,65°± 7,12°. Sacrohorizontal and lumbosacral joint angle averaged 33,15° ± 9,60° and 11,65° ± 5,56° respectively.
Conclusions: This study is a cross-sectional one, because of this the results cannot be applied to the whole population. However, these results will serve as guidelines and references for the future studies and the spinal surgeon.