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  • Title: Clinical application of a novel assessment for lumbosacral stability.
    Author: Ohmori K.
    Journal: J Neurosurg Spine; 2010 Aug; 13(2):276-82. PubMed ID: 20672966.
    Abstract:
    OBJECT: To evaluate the grade of lumbosacral stability, shape analysis was conducted on plain radiographs of the lumbar spine. METHODS: One hundred twenty-six patients were classified into 2 groups: those with a single-segment disc space narrowing at L5-S1 or at L4-5. Stability was evaluated using the discriminant function (z score) derived from the analysis of radiographic parameters-that is, relative thickness of transverse process of L-5 and the sacral table angle. RESULTS: In patients with a space narrowing at L5-S1, the author observed a significantly slender L-5 transverse process and acute obliquity of the sacral endplate; accordingly, the z score was negative. In patients with a broad transverse process and a positive z score, the segment associated with disc height loss was L4-5. Thus, a close correlation was found between the site of the disc height loss and the bony characteristics of L-5 and S-1. Furthermore, it could be expected with a high degree reliability that when young adult patients had a z score less than -2 or -3, their L-5 vertebra would develop degenerative spondylolisthesis after middle age and the L5-S1 segment could be saved from age-related alterations as long as the z score was greater than 2.5. The constitutional characteristics of the lumbosacral junction may exert a major influence on the site of disc degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: Stability at the lumbosacral junction was thought to be quantitatively represented by the z score, with z being designated the lumbosacral stability score.
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