Abstract
Thoracic kyphosis was measured on chest lateral radiographs of 885 normal subjects, comprising of 509 males and 346 females. Subjects were accepted as normal if they had no problems of lung, heart of spine such as scoliosis or significant compression fracture radiologically. Kyphotic angle was measured by Cobbs method from T3 to T10. Index of wedging which represents the wedging degree of vertebral body was measured on apical vertebra, and also the location of apical vertebra was studied. The results obtained were as follows: 1. Kyphotic angle through all age groups showed the range 17°–33° in males and 17°–34° in females. 2. Kyphotic angle increased with the increase of age, but not related with sex. Therefore normal range of kyphotic angle should be determined in respective age group accordingly. 3. Index of wedging in apical vertebra through all age groups showed the range of 1.07–1.21 in males and 1.07–1.23 in females. 4. Index of wedging increased with the increase of age, and normal range of index of wedging in respective age group was supposed to be more significant. 5. There was no correlations between the regression of kyphotic angle and index of wedging. 6. The most frequent apical vertebra was located on T6, and then T7 and T5 in order.