Morphometric analysis of the spine in patients with single-level lumbar disc herniations: clinical study

Abstract

Aims: It was reported in the literature that sagittal balance may be impaired in patients with spinal deformities and lumbar degenerative diseases. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between disc herniation and the results of spinal column morphological measurements related to sagittal balance on lumbar direct radiographs and preoperative blood biochemistry results in patients with single-level lumbar disc herniation and healthy subjects. Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for L4-L5 or L5-S1 intervertebral disc herniation and healthy individuals were included in the study. The participants were then grouped into the control group (n=15) and the LDH group (n=30). Patients were also grouped into the L4-5 HNP group (n=15) and the L5-S1 HNP group (n=15). Age, gender, blood count, and serum C-reactive protein values of all individuals and L1-S1 Cobb angles, T12 and S1 slope angles, L4-S1 Cobb angles, each disc height, and L1-L5 vertebral column height were measured on lumbar direct radiographs. Results: Age (p=0.035), T12 slope angle (p=0.032), L4-S1 Cobb angle (t=3.649, p=0.001), L1-L2 intervertebral disc height (p=0.032), L5-S1 intervertebral disc height (p=0.033), and eosinophil counts (p=0.039) were different between the control group and LDH group. However, there was no statistical difference between patients with L4-L5 disc herniation and patients with L5S1 disc herniation in terms of study parameters. ROC-curve and regression analysis revealed that if age over 39 years if the T12 slope angle was less than 21.50 degrees if the L4-S1 Cobb angle was less than 32.43 degrees if L1-L2 disc height was above 7.45 mm and if L5-S1 disc height was below 8.15 mm (p=0.041) these parameters could be used predictive markers for the diagnosis of the lumbar disc herniation (p<0.05). Conclusion: At the end of the study, it was argued that patient age, T12 slope angle, L4-S1 Cobb angle, L1-L2, and L5-S1 intervertebral disc heights measured on lumbar X-ray images could be used as predictive parameters for the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation in these patients.

Keywords

• Lumbar disc herniation
• Cobb angle
• T12 slope angle
• S1 slope angle

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