J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2008 Oct;43(5):595-600. 10.4055/jkoa.2008.43.5.595.

Shape and Motion of Each Lumbar Segment in Normal Korean Adults

• Kim DS
• Kim YM
• Choi ES
• Shon HC
• Park KJ
• Park GK
• Lee EM
• Cui HS

• KMID: 2186421
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2008.43.5.595

Abstract

PURPOSE: By achieving informations about sagittal shape and motion of each lumbar segment in normal subjects, we tried to get the standards useful in management of spinal disorders and fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty normal adults without any disorder on their back were adopted. L3 centered thoracolumbar (T-L) X-ray's including standing lateral, AP's in righ-tleft bending, and flexion- extension lateral were checked for each person. Cobb angles of each segment were measured. Statistical analysis was done for comparison by gender and correlation of each factors.
RESULTS
Body shape of upper lumbar vertebrae was kyphotic but caudal bodies are changed into lordotic gradually. Disc angle was lordotic in all the discs. Segmetal motion in sagittal plane was greatest at L4-L5 (18.6degrees). However, segmental motion at coronal plane was largest at L3-L4 (12.6degrees).
CONCLUSION
We achieved Korean standard of shape and motion of each lumbar segment. Proportion of each factor contributing to total lumbar lordosis was evaluated also.

Keyword

Normal adult; Lumbar; Segmental; Sagittal shape; Motion

MeSH Terms

Adult
Animals
Humans
Lordosis
Lumbar Vertebrae

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Method of measuring sagittal shape of the body at standing lateral view.

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  Fig. 2 Lordotic shape was greatest at L5 body.

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  Fig. 3 Summarized patterns of sagittal shape and motion of each lumbar disc segment.

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  Fig. 4 The proportion of lumbar lordosis (%=degree of each factor/total lumbar lordosis).

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  Fig. 5 The standard of segmental shape in lumbar vertebrae (percentage of each factor on total amount of lumbar lordosis).

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  Fig. 6 The standard range of sagittal and coronal motions of each segment.

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