Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.8(1) > 1035980

Lee, Choi, Kim, Seo, An, and Son: The Sagittal Balance and Compensatory Mechanisms in Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the sagittal alignment and the main factors contributing to sagittal compensatory mechanism in lumbar stenosis.

Materials and Methods

63 patients of spinal stenosis surgically treated were evaluated using 14× 36 inch standing lateral films. The global sagittal balance was measured with C7 plumb line and hip flexion angle. The thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilting angle were compared to each of normal korean values to find out main factors participating in compensatory mechanism. A t last follow- up, at least 6 months after surgery, the changes of sagittal parameters and global balance were evaluated according to the correction amount of pathologic segments’ angle to understand the compensatory mechanism and its contributing factors.

Results

The C7 plumb line was +3.04 cm(± .91SD), thoracic kyphosis 30.0。 (± 12.1), lumbar lordosis 43.1 。 (± 14.7) and pelvic tilting angle 21.7。 (± 8.2). All patients except 8 showed global compensation state. The differences compared to normal korean values were 10。of pelvic tilting angle and 2。 of thoracic kyphosis. Pelvic tilting angle was more contributing factor of compensatory mechanism than thoracic kyphosis. A t last follow up, 14 patients surgically corrected 5。 or more showed significant posterior shift of C7 plumb line and increased lumbar lordosis(p<0.05). 11 patients aggravated 5。or more showed significant increase of adjacent segment angle to participate in compensatory mechanism(p<0.05).

Conclusion

Most lumbar spinal stenosis patients showed compensated sagittal balance state. A djacent segments and pelvic tilting were thought as main contributing factors of compensation mechanism.

REFERENCES

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Fig. 1.
Angle of incidence(AOI) is sum of pelvic tilting angle and sacral slope.
jkss-8-46f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Results of surgery. Among the total 63 cases, the fused segment’s lordosis angle(FA) was increased at least 5°(group 1) in 14 cases, decreased 5° or more(group 3) in 11 cases. In 38 cases, the changes were less than 5°(group 2).
jkss-8-46f2.tif
Fig. 3.
The changes of sagittal parameters after surgery and follow-up. In group 1, the mean 9.9°increase of pathologic segments angle(d-PS) influenced to other parameters to be more comfortable. But in group 3, the other parameters were worsen especially the non-pathologic segments angle(d-NPS, adjacent segment’s angle) which was statistically significant.
jkss-8-46f3.tif
Table 1.
Sagittal Parameters of Spinal Stenosis Patients and their Normal Ranges
  Spinal Stenosis Normal Ranges
C7-plumb line +3.04 cm±0.91(SD)  
thoracic kyphosis 30.0˚±12.1 32.0˚±9.4
lumbar lordosis 43.1˚±14.7 49˚±10.9
pelvic tilting 21.7˚±8.2 11˚±5.4

이종서 등. 정상 척추의 시상면 정렬의 분석. 대한정형외과학회지, 34:949-54, 1999.

Table 2.
Correlations between Sagittal Parameters
  r
L-Lordosis and C7-plumb line −0.59
L-Lordosis and T-kyphosis 0.55
L-Lordosis and Pelvic tilting −0.59
PS-Lordosis and NPS-lordosis −0.53

L;Lumbar, T;Thoracic, PS;Pathologic Segment, NPS;Non pathologic Segment

Table 3.
Changes of Sagittal Parameters after Operation and Follow-up
  group 1 group 2 group 3
preop follow-up preop follow-up preop follow-up
C7 plumb line(cm) +5.3±3.3 +1.6±3.2 +2.0±3.5 2.1±1.6 +4.0±1.9 +3.2±1.9
T-kyphosis(˚) 20.1±9.8 18.5±6.3 30.1±10.0 26.1±14.0 30.3±7.7 31.7±11.3
L-lordosis(˚) 30.9±16.2 38.7±13.8 45.8±12.6 45.1±10.0 49.3±11.6 45.8±11.5
PS-lordosis(˚) 13.0±13.8 22.9±14.0 21.7±12.8 20.4±10.9 31.6±16.9 21.8±14.3
NPS-lordosis(˚) 17.9±19.9 15.9±18.1 24.1±15.6 24.7±14.0 17.6±10.8 24.0±14.5
Pelvic tilting(˚) 27.9±7.1 26.6±6.9 18.9±8.0 19.7±7.0 23.5±4.7 23.6±2.4
No. of fusion seg. 2.1±1.0 2.0±0.9 2.3±0.5

Statistically significant compared to preoperative(p<0.05)

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