Roentgenographic analysis of lumbar lordotic dimensions among indigenes of Delta State

Abstract

The spinal column of humans possesses strategically placed concave and convex curves which work in harmony to give an upright posture. The inwardly concave curvature in the lumbar region of the spine is known as the lordosis and it plays a very important role in the formation of the posture of humans. Analysis of the human lordosis is of great importance as it has been shown to be a major factor in the onset of low back pain, and is of great importance in spinal reconstructive surgery, through which some form of repair can be done to the spinal column that has undergone some form of alteration. The present study was carried out to analyse the lumbar lordotic dimensions among indigenes of Delta State. The aim of the study was to find out the average lordotic angle, vertebral body height and intervertebral disc height for the male and female population. The study was also aimed at finding the range for the normal lordotic angles as well as the correlations between these dimensions and the age of an individual. A regression equation was also formulated with which the lordotic angle of an individual can be estimated given the age of that individual. The sample size was 384 individuals (204 males and 180 females) with an age range of 20-60 years. The male population
had a mean angle of 59.33±2.45° and the females had a lower mean value of 53.33±2.61°. The study showed males had higher mean values for lumbar vertebra height and intervertebral disc height. A steady increase in the height of the lumbar vertebra and intervertebral disc from the first to the last was observed in this study. This study also showed that a weak negative correlation existed between the age of an individual and the  lordotic angle and the vertebral height. Correlations between the age and intervertebral disc height showed a weak positive correlation. A regression formula was derived for estimating the lordotic angle of an individual given the age. This study will be of great importance to medical practitioners and forensic anthropologists in spinal reconstructive surgery and forensic human identification by gender and age.

Keywords: Lumbar Spine. Lordosis, Lordotic Angle, Correlation, Regression.