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. 2023 Apr 24;18(1):314.
doi: 10.1186/s13018-023-03782-w.

The correlation of sacral table angle to spinopelvic sagittal alignment in healthy adults

Nan Ru  1 , Keith D K Luk  2 , Jianmin Sun  3 , Guodong Wang  4
Affiliations

The correlation of sacral table angle to spinopelvic sagittal alignment in healthy adults

Nan Ru et al. J Orthop Surg Res. .

Abstract

Background: The sacrum plays an important role in sagittal balance of the spine, whereas the exact association between sacral parameters, specifically the sacral table angle (STA) and spinopelvic parameters has been only scarcely assessed. It aims to investigate the correlations between the sacral parameters and spinopelvic sagittal alignment parameters in healthy adults.

Methods: A cohort of 142 Northern Chinese healthy adults between 18 and 45 years old were recruited between April 2019 and March 2021. Full-spine standing X-ray films were performed for every volunteer. The sacral parameters were measured: sacral table angle (STA), sacral inclination (SI) and sacral slope (SS). The spinopelvic sagittal alignment parameters included: pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis and the apex of lumbar lordosis (LLA). The correlations analysis, as well as the linear regression analysis, were performed between STA, SI and the spinopelvic parameters.

Results: An equation 'STA = SI + 90 - SS' was revealed to represent the interrelationships between STA, SI and SS. STA was statistically correlated with PI (rs = - 0.693), PT (rs = - 0.342), SS (rs = - 0.530), LL (rs = 0.454), and LLA (rs = 0.438). SI correlated with STA (rs = 0.329), PT (rs = - 0.562), SS (rs = - 0.612) and LL (rs = 0.476). Simple linear regression analysis also verified the correlation between STA and PI (y = - 1.047x + 149.4), SS (y = - 0.631x + 96.9), LL (y = 0.660x - 117.7), LLA (y = 0.032x + 0.535), and SI (y = 0.359x + 8.23).

Conclusion: The equation 'STA = SI + 90 - SS' indicates the exact geometric relationship between STA, SI and SS. The sacral parameters, both STA and SI, correlate to the spinopelvic sagittal alignment parameters in healthy adults. The linear regression analysis results also give predictive models for spinopelvic sagittal alignment parameters based on the invariant parameter STA, which are helpful for surgeons in designing an ideal therapeutic plan.

Keywords: Pelvic incidence; Predictive models; Sacral inclination; Sacral table angle; Spinopelvic sagittal alignment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The descriptions of spinopelvic and sacral parameters. PI Pelvic incidence; PT Pelvic tilt; SS Sacral slope; LL Lumbar lordosis; LLA The apex of lumbar lordosis; SI Sacral inclination; STA Sacral table angle
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The schematic diagram shows the geometric formula equation between STA, SI, and SS: ‘STA = SI + 90 − SS’. STA Sacral table angle; SI Sacral inclination; SS Sacral slope
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
A linear regression between (SI + 90 − SS) and STA; B–F, linear correlations between sacral table angle and spinopelvic sagittal alignment parameters. SI Sacral inclination; SS Sacral slope; STA Sacral table angle; PI Pelvic incidence; PT Pelvic tilt; LL Lumbar lordosis; LLA The apex of lumbar lordosis; SI Sacral inclination
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Linear correlations between the sacral inclination and spinopelvic sagittal alignment parameters. SI Sacral inclination; SS Sacral slope; PT Pelvic tilt; LL Lumbar lordosis
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