The Effects of Spinopelvic Parameters Such As Lumbar Lordosis and Sacral Slope Angles in the Development of Lumbar Disc Degeneration

Abstract

Objective; Spinopelvic parameters were identified and the association between sagittal spinopelvic alignment and lumbar disc diseases have been reported in several studies, The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spinopelvic parameters such as lumbar lordosis (LL) and sacral slope (SS) in normal healthy lumbar spine versus degenerative disc disease group.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 140 patients suffered from back pain with/without radiculopathy between 2016-2017 in this study. Of these 70 patients had normal disc morphology and they constituted called control group, and the other 70 patients had lumbar degenerative disc disease and they constituted called disease patient group. All patients' LL, and SS angles were measured on T2 weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging and degenerated disc levels were noted. We also recorded LL-SS ratio which was calculated by dividing of LL by SS value in both groups. We compared these parameters between two groups.

Results: In disease patient group there was a positive correlation (r = 0.947, p<0.0001) between the LL and SS angles. The mean LL was 45,14 +/- 11.01 and the mean SS angle was 35.91 +/- 7.67 degrees and there was weak negative correlation between degenerated disc level and SS angle (r=-0.243, p=0.042). LL-SS ratio was 1.25 +/- 0.1. In control group, there was a positive correlation (r=0.927, p<0.0001) between the LL and SS angles. The mean LL was 49.46 +/- 9.07 and the mean SS was 38.45 +/- 6.91 degrees. LL-SS ratio was 1.28 +/- 0.93. There were significant differences in LL, SS and LL-SS ratio between groups (p=0.013, p=0.041, and p=(1.025, respectively).

Conclusion: LL, SS angles and LL-SS ratio which are easily measured at in neurosurgery, orthopaedics and physical therapy practice, m the predictor of disc degeneration.