Sagittal spino-pelvic alignment in adolescent patients with lumbar disc herniation

English Keywords:Adolescent lumbar disc herniation  Sagittal plane  Spino-pelvic parameters  Pelvic incidence

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】　Objectives: To evaluate the sagittal spino-pelvic alignment in adolescent lumbar disc herniation(ALDH) patients compared with normal adolescents. Methods: From March 2006 to May 2012, a total of 30 patients with ALDH， including 18 males and 12 females with the age ranging from 12 to 18 years(averaged 16.0±3.1 years) was reviewed retrospectively. Forty adolescents(24 males and 16 females) with the age ranging from 13 to 18 years(averaged 16.6±2.1 years) were selected as the normal controls. On standing lateral X-ray, the following parameters were measured: thoracic kyphosis(TK), lumbar lordosis(LL), sagittal vertical axis(SVA), pelvic incidence(PI), pelvic tilt(PT) and sacral slope(SS). Sagittal spino-pelvic parameters were analyzed and compared between two groups. Results: No significant difference was found between two groups in terms of age and gender ratio(P＞0.05). The average TK(9.1°±7.0°), LL(22.5°±12.2°) and SS(20.2°±6.2°) was smaller in ALDH group than normal controls(TK, 24.8°±8.2°; LL,　47.8°±9.5°; SS, 32.5°±6.7°) respectively(P＜0.05). However, the average PT(21.5°±6.3°) and SVA(-5.0±31.2mm) was higher in ALDH group than normal controls(PT, 8.9°±7.3°; SVA, -18.7±18.6mm)(P＜0.05). There was no significant difference between two groups with respect to PI(41.2°±8.5° in ALDH group, 42.2°±7.1° in controls)(P＞0.05). Conclusions: PI is similar between two groups. The sagittal features, including vertical sacrum, thoracic hypokyphosis and straight lumbar spine might be related to a protective posture for pain relief in ALDH patients.