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. 2025 Mar 17:62:191-196.
doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2025.03.043. eCollection 2025 Apr.

Application of standing hyperextension lateral radiograph and full-length spine computed tomography scout view in the prone position in spinal flexibility assessment for patients with symptomatic old osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture with kyphotic deformity: A comparative analysis

Xiubo Ge  1 , Yifei Li  1 , Wei Zhang  1   2 , Kangkang Wang  1   2 , Xilong Cui  1   2 , Haitao Lu  3 , Haiyang Yu  1   2
Affiliations

Application of standing hyperextension lateral radiograph and full-length spine computed tomography scout view in the prone position in spinal flexibility assessment for patients with symptomatic old osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture with kyphotic deformity: A comparative analysis

Xiubo Ge et al. J Orthop. .

Abstract

Background: Accurate assessment of thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK) flexibility is paramount in preoperative planning for patients with symptomatic old osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures (so-OTLF) exhibiting kyphotic deformity. While conventional standing hyperextension lateral radiographs (SHLR) are utilized, comparative analyses with prone computed tomography (CT) scout views in the sagittal plane remain limited. This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy of SHLR and full-length spine CT (FLS-CT) scout views in the prone position for assessing TLK flexibility in so-OTLF patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with so-OTLF and kyphotic deformity who underwent posterior corrective fusion surgery. Sagittal parameters were measured independently by two spine surgeons using standing radiographs, SHLR, and prone FLS-CT scout views. TLK flexibility was quantified as the difference between standing and either SHLR or FLS-CT measurements. Paired t-tests were employed to compare sagittal Cobb angles and TLK flexibility between hyperextension and prone positions. Intra- and interobserver reliability were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results: Thirty-four patients (mean age 66.1 ± 7.2 years, 30 females) were included. The mean TLK on standing radiographs was 50.9° ± 13.8°. SHLR demonstrated a mean TLK reduction of 7.8° (95 % CI: 6.6°-9.1°) to 43.1° ± 12.6° (P < 0.05). FLS-CT revealed a mean TLK of 31.8° ± 12.4°, a reduction of 19.1° (95 % CI: 17.4°-20.9°) compared to standing radiographs (P < 0.05). TLK flexibility in the prone position was significantly higher than in the hyperextension position (mean difference: 11.3°, P < 0.001). Both SHLR and FLS-CT demonstrated high intra- and interobserver reliability (ICC >0.82), with FLS-CT exhibiting superior reliability (intraobserver ICC: 0.97, interobserver ICC: 0.94) compared to SHLR (intraobserver ICC: 0.90, interobserver ICC: 0.82).

Conclusions: Prone FLS-CT scout views provide a more accurate assessment of TLK flexibility in patients with so-OTLF and kyphotic deformity compared to conventional SHLR. This enhanced accuracy may facilitate improved preoperative evaluation and surgical planning.

Keywords: Flexibility; Hyperextension position; Kyphotic deformity; Old thoracolumbar fracture; Osteoporosis; Prone position.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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