Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.17(4) > 1075915

Kim: Optimal Standing Radiographic Positioning in Patients with Sagittal Imbalance

Abstract

Study Design

This is a review of the literature about radiographic positioning for patients with sagittal imbalance.

Objectives

We wanted to verify the optimal radiographic positioning for patients with sagittal imbalance.

Summary of Literature Review

The standing lateral whole spine radiograph for identifying the sagittal alignment has a different value for the SVA according to the radiographic positioning.

Materials and Methods

This is a review of the literature.

Results

The fists-on-the clavicle position or the cross-arm position not only represents a functional standing position, but it also causes a less negative shift of the SVA in patients with sagittal imbalance. Both the extended hip and knee positions are necessary to exclude a compensation mechanism of the lower extremity.

Conclusions

The optimal radiographic positioning is essential to examine the degrees of sagittal imbalance.

REFERENCES

1.Duval-Beaupè re G., Schimdt C., Cosson P. A barycentremetric study of the sagittal shape of spine and pelvis: the conditions required for an economic standing position. Ann Biomed Eng. 1992. 20:451–62.
2.Jackson RP., McManus AC. Radiographic analysis of sagittal plane alignment and balance in standing volunteers and patients with low back pain matched for age, sex, and size. A prospective controlled clinical study. Spine. 1994. 19:1611–8.
3.Mannion AF., Taimela S., Mü ntener M., Dvorak J. Active therapy for chronic low back pain part 1. Effects on back muscle activation, fatigability, and strength. Spine. 2001. 26:897–908.
4.Takahashi T., Ishida K., Hirose D, et al. Trunk deformity is associated with a reduction in outdoor activities of daily living and life satisfaction in community-dwelling older people. Osteoporos Int. 2005. 16:273–9.
crossref
5.Lee CS., Kim YT., Kim E. Clinical study of lumbar degenerative kyphosis. J Korean Soc Spine Surg. 1997. 4:27–35.
6.Gelb DE., Lenke LG., Bridwell KH., Blanke K., McEnery KW. An analysis of sagittal spinal alignment in 100 asymptomatic middle and older aged volunteers. Spine. 1995. 20:1351–8.
crossref
7.Kim WJ., Kang JW., Yeom JS, et al. A comparative analysis of sagittal spinal balance in 100 asymptomatic young and older aged volunteers. J Korean Soc Spine Surg. 2003. 10:327–34.
crossref
8.Lee CS., Oh WH., Chung SS., Lee SG., Lee JY. Analysis of the sagittal alignment of normal spines. J Korean Orthop Assoc. 1999. 34:949–54.
crossref
9.Lafage V., Schwab F., Skalli W, et al. Standing balance and sagittal plane spinal deformity: analysis of spinopelvic and gravity line parameters. Spine. 2008. 33:1572–8.
10.Hammerberg EM., Wood KB. Sagittal profile of the elderly. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2003. 16:44–50.
crossref
11.Stagnara P., De Mauroy JC., Dran G, et al. Reciprocal angulation of vertebral bodies in a sagittal plane: approach to references in the evaluation of kyphosis and lordosis. Spine. 1982. 7:335–42.
12.Kim MS., Chung SW., Hwang CJ., Lee CK., Chang BS. A radiographic analysis of sagittal spinal alignment for the standardization of standing lateral position. J Korean Orthop Assoc. 2005. 40:861–7.
crossref
13.Vendatum R., Lenke LG., Keeney JA., Bridwell KH. Comparison of standing sagittal spinal alignment in asymptomatic adolescents and adults. Spine. 1998. 23:211–5.
14.Peterson MD., Jackson RP., McManus AC. Standing sagittal spinal balance, alignments and lumbopelvic relationships: Part I. A study of adult volunteers. Presented at the annual meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society, Asheville, North Carolina, September. 1995. 13–7.
15.Legaye J., Duval-Beaupere G., Hecquet J., Marty C. Pelvic incidence: a fundamental pelvic parameter for three-dimensional regulation of spinal sagittal curves. Eur Spine J. 1998. 7:99–103.
crossref
16.Labelle H., Roussouly P., Berthonnaud E, et al. Spondylolisthesis, pelvic incidence, and spinopelvic balance: a correlation study. Spine. 2004. 29:2049–54.
17.Mendoza-Lattes S., Ries Z., Gao Y., Weinstein SL. Natural history of spinopelvic alignment differs from symptomatic deformity of the spine. Spine. 2010. 35:E792–8.
crossref
18.Jackson RP., Kanemura T., Kawakami N., Hales C. Lumbopelvic lordosis and pelvic balance on repeated standing lateral radiographs of adult volunteers and untreated patients with constant low back pain. Spine. 2000. 25:575–86.
crossref
19.Marks MC., Stanford CF., Mahar AT., Newton PO. Standing lateral radiographic positioning does not represent customary standing balance. Spine. 2003. 28:1176–82.
crossref
20.Aota Y., Saito T., Uesugi M., Ishida K., Shinoda K., Mizuma K. Does the fists-on-clavicles position represent a functional standing position? Spine. 2009. 34:808–12.
crossref
21.Faro FD., Marks MC., Pawelek J., Newton PO. Evaluation of a functional position for lateral radiograph acquisition in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine. 2004. 29:2284–9.
crossref
22.Kim WJ., Kang JW., Koo JY, et al. Changes of sagittal alignment according to position in patients with degenerative kyphotic deformity. The 54th Annual Fall Congress of the Korean Orthopaedic Association. Oct, 2010. (Oral presentation).
23.Horton WC., Brown CW., Bridwell KH., Glassman SD., Suk SI., Cha CW. Is there an optimal patient stance for obtaining a lateral 36” radiograph? a critical comparison of three techniques. Spine. 2005. 30:427–33.
24.Suzuki H., Endo K., Mizuochi J., Kobayashi H., Tanaka H., Yamamoto K. Clasped position for measurement of sagittal spinal alignment. Eur Spine J. 2010. 19:782–6.
crossref
25.O'Brien MF., Kuklo TR., Blanke KM., Lenke LG. Radiographic Measurement Manual. Spinal Deformity Study Group(SDSG). Medtronic Sofamor Danek. 2004.
26.Jackson RP., Hales C. Congruent spinopelvic alignment on standing lateral radiographs of adult volunteers. Spine. 2000. 25:2808–15.
crossref
27.Kim WJ., Kang JW., Kim HY, et al. Change of pelvic tilt before and after gait in patients with lumbar degenerative kyphosis. J Korean Soc Spine Surg. 2009. 16:95–103.
crossref
28.Schwab F., Lafage V., Boyce R., Skalli W., Farcy JP. Gravity line analysis in adult volunteers. age-related correlation with spinal parameters, pelvic parameters, and foot position. Spine. 2006. 31:E959–67.

Fig. 1.
A 71 year old woman has lumbar lordosis and spondylolisthesis L4 on L5 in simple radiograph and MRI image(A, B). But, this patient has deformity of sagittal deformity including thoracic straightening, lumbar kyphotic change in standing lateral whole spine radiograph(C).
jkss-17-198f1.tif
Fig. 2.
The same patient has different SVA according to arm positioning
jkss-17-198f2.tif
Fig. 3.
SVA can be changed according to positioning of hip and knee joint in standing whole spine lateral radiograph of the same patient
jkss-17-198f3.tif
Fig. 4.
Thoracic kyphotic angle is measured from T4 to T12, lumbar lordotic angle L1 to S1(A). And C7 plumb line is lined from center of C7 body and SVA can be measured as distance between C7 plumb line and postero-superior corner of S1 vertebral body(B). Also pelvic parameters such as pelvic incidence, sacral slope, and pelvic tilt can be measured in standing lateral whole spine(C).
jkss-17-198f4.tif
Fig. 5.
Fists-on-clavicle(A, B) or cross-arm position(C, D) is recommended with extended hip and knee during taking radiographs.
jkss-17-198f5.tif
TOOLS
Similar articles