Journal List > J Korean Soc Spine Surg > v.21(2) > 1076047

Kim, Park, Sung, Ku, Kwon, Park, and Choy: Necessity of Whole Spine Standing Lateral Radiograph in Adults over 50 Years Old Who Have Degenerative Lumbar Disease - Comparison with Supine Lumbar Lateral Radiograph -

Abstract

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Objectives

Sagittal imbalance cannot be predicted depending on the degree of lumbar lordosis. Thus, we tried to evaluate the necessity of whole spine standing lateral radiograph through comparison of the spinal and pelvic parameter between supine lumbar lateral radiograph and whole spine standing lateral radiograph.

Summary of the Literature Review

No studies in the literature compare supine lumbar lateral radiograph and whole spine standing lateral radiograph.

Materials and Methods

We randomly selected 50 males and 50 females among the patients over the age of 50 who visited our hospital for outpatient due to degenerative lumbar disease. Lumbar lordosis (sLL/wLL), sacral slope (sSS/wSS), and pelvic tilt (sPT/ wPT) were measured and compared respectively by supine lumbar lateral radiograph and whole spine standing lateral radiograph. We categorized as group AI (sLL<30˚) and group AII (sLL≥30˚) by supine lumbar lateral radiograph and analyzed them. We also categorized as group BI (SVA≤5 cm) and group BII (SVA>5 cm) by whole spine standing lateral radiograph and analyzed them.

Results

There were no statistical difference in lumbar lordosis (sLL/wLL: 35.1˚/37.7˚) and pelvic parameter (sSS/wSS: 32˚/31.7˚, sPT/ wPT: 24.3˚/24.2˚. sPI/wPI: 56.3˚/58.2˚) between supine lumbar lateral radiograph and whole spine standing lateral radiograph, and there were also no statistical difference between two groups (group AI & AII) in SVA, lumbar lordosis and pelvic parameter. Pelvic parameter compared by supine lumbar lateral radiograph and whole spine standing lateral radiograph based on sagittal balance was no significant difference, but lumbar lordosis appeared statistical difference.

Conclusion

Sagittal imbalance appears quite a lot in patients with degenerative lumbar disease and supine lateral radiograph can’t reflect the whole sagittal imbalance. So, whole spine standing lateral radiograph should be performed routinely to analyze the sagittal alignment.

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Figures and Tables%

Fig. 1.
Fits-on-clavicle position (A, B) or cross-arm position (C, D) is recommended during taking radiographs.
jkss-21-76f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Spinal & Pelvic parameters. LL: lumbar lordosis, SS: Sacral slope, SVA: Sagittal vertical axis, PI: Pelvic incidence, PT: Pelvic tilt.
jkss-21-76f2.tif
Fig. 3.
A 53-year-old man's supine lumbar lateral radiograph (A) and whole spine lateral radiograph with SVA ≤ 5 cm (B).
jkss-21-76f3.tif
Fig. 4.
A 75-year-old woman's supine lumbar lateral radiograph (A) and whole spine lateral radiograph with SVA > 5 cm (B).
jkss-21-76f4.tif
Table 1.
Supine lumbar lateral radiograph vs whole spine lateral radiograph
Supine Lumbar Lateral Radiograph Whole spine Lateral Radiograph p-value
LL 35.1˚(±14.4˚) 37.7˚(±16.8˚) 0.170
SS 32˚(±9.6˚) 31.7˚(±9.8˚) 0.085
PT 24.3˚(±10.2˚) 24.2˚(±11.1˚) 0.132
Table 2.
Spine & pelvic parameter(˚) vs SVA(cm)
p-value
sLL* and SVA 0.612
sSS and SVA 0.820
sPT and SVA 0.510

sLL lumbar lordosis on supine lumbar lateral radiograph.

sSS sacral slope on whole spine standing lateral radiograph.

sPT pelvic tilt on whole spine standing lateral radiograph.

Table 3.
Lumbar lordosis(˚) & SVA(cm) in AI and AII
sLL* wLL p-value
AI (<30˚) 20.0˚(±7.6˚) 23.5˚(±13.5) 0.520
AII (≥30˚) 43.5˚(±9.6˚) 45.7˚(±12.7) 0.174

sLL lumbar lordosis on supine lumbar lateral radiograph.

wLL lumbar lordosis on whole spine standing lateral radiograph.

Table 4.
BI vs BII
BI (SVA≤5 cm) BII (SVA>5 cm)
Supine Whole spine p-value Supine Whole spine p-value
LL 37˚(±14˚) 43.6˚(±14˚) 0.023 31.9˚(±16.7˚) 28.1˚(±16.8˚) 0.044
SS 33.3˚(±8.3˚) 33.3˚(±8.2˚) 0.309 29.9˚(±11.2˚) 29.2˚(±11.7˚) 0.201
PT 21.5˚(±9.1˚) 21.1˚(±8.1˚) 0.121 29.0˚(±10.5˚) 29.1˚(±13.5˚) 0.330
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