Abstract:
Objective: Measure the lumbosacral angle in intervertebral disc herniation and analyse its significance in the diagnosis of this disease.
Methods: The radiograms of 102 cases with intervertebral disc herniation were observed and their lumbosacral angles were measured using Grogkopff's technique to compare with normal controls
Results: Apart from the direct X-ray characteristics described in former literatures, the lumbosacral angle of L
5S
1 intervertebral disc herniation was significantly greater than that of L
4~5 intervertebral disc herniation and normal people (
P <0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the latter two groups (
P >0.05). The possible reasons were: (1)The appearance of intervertebral pressure imbalance; (2)The compensatory effect for relaxing nerve root compression; (3)The result of imbalance of flexion and extension strength of the spine.
Conclusion: Measurement of the lumbosacral angle may help in the diagnosis of L
5S
1 intervertebral disc herniation.