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. 2014:2014:370852.
doi: 10.1155/2014/370852. Epub 2014 Aug 18.

Midsagittal anatomy of lumbar lordosis in adult egyptians: MRI study

Abdelmonem A Hegazy  1 , Raafat A Hegazy  2
Affiliations

Midsagittal anatomy of lumbar lordosis in adult egyptians: MRI study

Abdelmonem A Hegazy et al. Anat Res Int. 2014.

Abstract

Despite the increasing recognition of the functional and clinical importance of lumbar lordosis, little is known about its description, particularly in Egypt. At the same time, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been introduced as a noninvasive diagnostic technique. The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the lumbar lordosis using midsagittal MRIs. Normal lumbar spine MRIs obtained from 93 individuals (46 males, 47 females; 25-57 years old) were evaluated retrospectively. The lumbar spine curvature and its segments "vertebrae and discs" were described and measured. The lumbar lordosis angle (LLA) was larger in females than in males. Its mean values increased by age. The lumbar height (LH) was longer in males than in females. At the same time, the lumbar breadth (LB) was higher in females than in males. Lumbar index (LI = LB/LH × 100) showed significant gender differences (P < 0.0001). Lordosis was formed by wedging of intervertebral discs and bodies of lower lumbar vertebrae. In conclusion, MRI might clearly reveal the anatomy of the lumbar lordosis. Use of LI in association with LLA could be useful in evaluation of lumbar lordosis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sagittal MRIs showing a gender difference in curvature of lumbar spine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Sagittal T1-weighted MRI of a male aged 32 years showing measurements of lumbar spine segments.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sagittal T1-weighted female MRIs showing an increase in curvature of lumbar spine with aging.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Graphs showing the differences in the mean values: (a) vertebral body heights (mm) in total investigated cases of males and females, (b) intervertebral disc heights (mm) in total investigated cases of males and females, (c) indices of wedging of lumbar spine segments in the investigated cases of males and females. Number 100 indicates the base line; above it is lordotic and below it is kyphotic segment; (d) indices of wedging of lumbar spine segments in the investigated groups of ages.
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