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 (). 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.
1. Introduction
There is an increasing recognition of the functional and clinical importance for lumbar lordosis [1]. It is the key postural component in maintaining sagittal balance [2]. Affection of lumbar lordotic curve often results in sagittal spinal imbalance causing low back pain that represents one of the leading causes of disability [3]. Therefore, there is a need for accurate reconstruction of the lordotic curvature [2]. However, the current knowledge base for such reconstruction and spinal surgery is insufficient [4]. The normal range of lumbar lordosis is so wide (30 to 80°) that it becomes difficult to determine its value for an individual [2]. Unfortunately, the available data measuring the lumbar spine curvature using MRI are still limited, particularly in Egypt. Such data are used in assessing postural abnormalities [2]. Also, determining the size of the intervertebral disc and lumbar body vertebra is needed for the interbody fusion and artificial disc replacement [5]. Studies on the cadaver are subject to distortion because of postmortem tissue changes [6]. Meanwhile, the development of MRI has greatly enhanced understanding of the living human anatomy [7].
Aim of the study was to illustrate the normal midsagittal lumbar lordosis in adult Egyptians, its morphology and values using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to evaluate the role of lumbar spine segments “vertebrae and intervertebral discs” in its formation. The established database could be useful as reference values for the evaluation of lumbar bodies and discs in symptomatic patients.
2. Material and Methods
2.1. Subjects and MRI
A retrospective study was done for cases referred to the Diagnostic Radiology Department, Zagazig University Hospitals, in the period between January 2011 and June 2014. The data about the age and sex were recorded. MRI of the lumbosacral region for each case was studied. It was performed for the subject in the routine supine position with the hips and knees flexed. The images were obtained for various reasons such as soft tissue injuries, muscle pain, and low back pain. The selected cases were 93 in number, showing normal findings on T1 and T2 images without any change in the intervertebral discs and the surrounding bones according to the reading of the radiologist. The images were excluded if a fracture, congenital anomaly (such as lumbarisation and sacralisation), previous lumbar surgery, or pathology affecting the anatomy of the vertebrae and intervertebral discs was present. Also, the preliminary coronal scans were examined to ensure that the spine did not show significant scoliosis or any other rotation.
2.2. Protocol of MRI
The lumbar spine was examined with the use of a 1.5 Tesla scanner. T1-weighted images in the sagittal plane were obtained using a single spin-echo technique with a repetition time (TR) of 400 milliseconds and echo time (TE) of 8 milliseconds. Repetition time (TR) for T2-weighted images was 2800 milliseconds while for echo time (TE) it was 120 milliseconds. Slice thickness was 4 mm. The field of view (FOV) used was 25–30 cm which readily contained the lumbar spine with the last thoracic vertebra and a part of the sacrum.
2.3. Measurements
All MRIs were examined in the midsagittal plane. Confirmation that the resulting images were truly midline for all lumbar segments was determined from the presence of the spinous processes and clear demarcation of the spinal cord (Figure 1(a)) [8]. Twenty-three anatomical parameters were measured for each case (Table 1). Each measurement was recorded twice by each author, one from sagittal T1-weighted MRI and the other from T2-weighted MRI. This procedure was performed on two different days. The average of the readings for each parameter was used in the final calculation of the statistics. The angle of lumbar curvature was measured according to the modified Cobb’s method (Table 1, Figure 1(b)) [9]. Also, the height (LH) and breadth (LB) of the lumbar curvature were recorded (Figure 1(c)). Metric measurements included the anterior and posterior heights for each one of the five lumbar vertebrae (L1 to L5) and the intervertebral discs (L1/2 to L5/S1) (Figures 2(a) and 2(b)). All measurements were taken to the nearest 0.1 mm.
(a) T2-weighted MRI for a female aged 35 years
(b) T1-weighted MRI for a male aged 35 years with LLA (41.2°) measured between L1 and S1
(c) T2-weighted MRI for a male aged 35 years. The curvature appears like that in the previous figure, but its measurement (LLA) shows increased angle (54.5°), caused by posterior inclination of sacrum. Also, the height (vertical line) and breadth (horizontal line) of lumbar curvature are shown
(a) Measurements of heights of bodies of lumbar vertebrae
(b) Measurements of heights of intervertebral discs
2.4. Statistical Analysis
First, the number of males and females was calculated. Then, each gender group was arranged into two age groups; the first group included ages from 25 to 41 years while the second one ranged from 42 to 57 years. This was followed by determining the mean age (±SD) of individuals for each group.
Second, we calculated the mean values (m) of lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), height (LH), and breadth (LB) for lumbar spine curvature and anterior and posterior heights of vertebrae (AL and PL) and intervertebral discs (AD and PD) for each group.
Third, the data were analyzed for reliability. The data were analyzed for inter- and intraobserver reliability using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A reliability greater than or equal to an ICC of 0.75 () was considered highly reliable [10].
Fourth, the following indices were determined.(i)Lordosis index (LI) was calculated as the ratio of the breadth (LB) and height (LH) of the lumbar spine, as LI = LB/LH × 100 [11].(ii)Wedge index (WI) for each lumbar segment was calculated as the ratio of the anterior height to the posterior height [12] as follows.(a)Lumbar vertebral index = AL/PL × 100,(b)Intervertebral disc index = AD/PD × 100.
A vertebral body or disc with WI more than 100 was considered as a wedged (lordotic) segment. At the same time, the index less than 100 was a wedged segment in the opposite side (kyphosis); and that equaled 100 was a neutral “square” structure. Then, the mean values (m) of the indices for each group were calculated.
Finally, the obtained data were scrutinized, tabulated, and statistically analyzed, using maximum and minimum values, range (R), mean (m), difference between means of two groups (MD), standard deviation (SD), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of mean. The existence of significant differences between the means for the gender and the age groups was analyzed by using independent Student’s t-test. A value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
3. Results
3.1. Ages and Numbers
There were 46 males (M) and 47 females (F). Their ages ranged from 25 to 57 years. The first age group (G1) included 26 males and 20 females, while the second group (G2) included 20 males and 27 females (Table 2).
3.2. Morphological MRI Findings
The lumbar spine presented a posterior concavity “lordosis.” The lordosis was noticed to be more obvious in females than in males (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)) and increased by age (Figures 3(a), 3(b), and 3(c)). The lumbar spine comprised five vertebrae and five intervertebral discs. The vertebral bodies appeared on sagittal MRI as square masses separated by wedged elliptical intervertebral discs. The bodies demonstrated a low-signal outer rim surrounding the high-signal cancellous bone. The lumbar endplates were concave, while that of the upper surface of the sacrum was more or less flat. Meanwhile, the intervertebral discs had slightly less signal than the adjacent vertebral bodies; each disc was shown to consist of a central part, the nucleus pulposus, and a peripheral part, the annulus fibrosus, well differentiated on T2-weighted images. The discs increased in size in a craniocaudal direction. The maximum concavity of lumbar lordosis was noticed opposite to the upper edge of the fourth lumbar vertebra (Figures 1(c) and 3(a)). The height of fifth intervertebral disc (L5/S1) appeared to be markedly increased anteriorly, causing posterior inclination of the sacrum (Figures 2-3).
(a) A female aged 36 years with LLA = 58.4°
(b) A female aged 47 years with LLA = 66°
(c) A female aged 55 years, showing irregularities in the posterior aspects of lower lumbar vertebrae (arrows)
3.3. Inter- and Intraobserver Agreement
The values obtained at the different days by the same and each author were in close agreement with one another. The interclass correlation coefficient and the intraobserver agreement ranged from 0.90 to 0.97 and 0.95 to 0.98, respectively.
3.4. Measurement of Lumbar Lordosis Angle and Index
The values obtained for the angle of lumbar lordosis (LLA) ranged from 30° to 67°. Its mean in females (52.20°) was larger than in males (41.98°). This difference was considered to be extremely statistically significant ( value <0.0001). The angle increased by age, in both sexes. In males, its mean increased from 39.12° to 45.70° and in females from 50.03° to 53.81°, for the first and second age groups, respectively. Also, the lumbar height (LH) showed a significant increase in males (m: 168.08 mm) compared to that in females (m: 156.39 mm), with value <0.0001. There was LH decrease in both sexes by age; means in males decreased from 170.39 mm in the first age group to 165.09 mm in the second group and in females from to 159.42 in the first group to 154.15 mm in the second group. At the same time, LB was slightly increased in females (m: 45.73 mm) compared to that in males (m: 44.02 mm), with value =0.0553. On calculating the LI, there was a significant difference in its means between males (m: 26.26) and females (m: 29.34), with value <0.0001 (Table 3).
3.5. Measurement of the Vertebral Body
The anterior height (AH) of lumbar vertebral bodies in both sexes increased in a craniocaudal direction. Its mean for L1 vertebra was 25.23 mm and 24.18 mm in males and females, respectively. The value increased to reach 29.31 mm and 27.88 mm for L5 vertebra of males and females, respectively. In regard to the posterior height (PH), there was an increase in its mean in males from L1 (m: 26.30 mm) to L2 (m: 27.13 mm), followed by a slight and gradual decrease to reach L5 (m: 24.09 mm). The PH in females showed the same trend of the male PH, but the change in the values occurred at L3 instead of L2. All investigated dimensions of male vertebrae were greater than those of females, with variable values (Figure 4(a); Table 4).
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
3.6. Measurement of the Intervertebral Disc
The lumbar disc heights generally increased toward the lower lumbar levels, except for the posterior height of L5/S1. The mean of anterior disc height (AD) was 8.91 mm and 8.11 mm for the first disc (L1/2) in males and females, respectively. Then, it increased gradually till it reached the last disc (L5/S1) where its value was 14.41 mm and 13.97 mm in males and females, respectively. On the other hand, the mean of posterior disc height (PD) of L1/2 was 6.60 mm in males and 6.69 mm in females; then, it increased gradually till the L4/5, where it reached its maximum values about 8.0 mm in both sexes. Then, the PD of L5/S1 decreased to reach about 7.0 mm in both sexes. Despite the increased disc dimensions in males compared to those in females in most cases, these differences were not statistically significant (Figure 4(b); Table 5).
3.7. Assessment of the Wedging of Lumbar Spine Segments
Investigation of lumbar indices (WI) in males showed that the lumbar bodies presented kyphotic wedging () at L1 and tended to be neutral “square” () at L2 and then were followed from L3 to L5 by a progressive lordotic bent (), with variable values between the two age groups. Female lumbar WI showed that lordotic trend began as high as L2 (Figure 4(c); Table 6).
The wedging of the intervertebral discs showed a lordotic trend (WI > 100) at all levels and an increase from the L1/2 (m: 137.02 for males and 124.68 for females) to the L5/S1 disc (m: 214.85 for males and 212.43 for females). The increase was in a gradient manner from L1/2 till L4/5 and then was followed by marked increase at L5/S1. The WI of discs showed no statistically significant difference between the two sexes. In regard to bodies of lumbar vertebrae, the WI means were higher in females than in males, with statistically significant differences, particularly in the second age group (Figure 4(c); Table 6). At all levels of lumbar segments, there was an increase in the mean values of WI by age, which appeared in the second age group in comparison with the first one. The difference was highly significant at the last disc “L5/S1” ( value =0.0024) (Figure 4(d); Table 7).
4. Discussion
Lumbar lordosis is the inward (ventral) curvature of the lumbar spine [13]. It is a key factor in maintaining sagittal balance or “neutral upright sagittal spinal alignment” which represents a postural goal for surgical, ergonomic, and physiotherapeutic intervention [2]. The normal range of LLA in the current study was 30° to 67°. The recorded range of LLA differed from that recorded in other studies, using radiographs in their assessment. Jackson and McManus [14] described values which ranged from 31° to 88°; and Damasceno et al. [15] reported a range from 33° to 89°. Our data showed an increased LLA in females (m: 52.20°) than in males (m: 41.98°), with value <0.0001. Murrie et al. [16] agreed with the current results that lumbar lordosis is more prominent in females but they were unable to demonstrate any significant variation in lordosis with age. Stagnara et al. [17] argued that females apparently had greater lumbar lordosis owing to their greater buttock size. Another explanation for increased lordosis in females is the number of pregnancies. Nourbakhsh et al. [18] stated that the degree of lumbar lordosis was positively related with the number of pregnancies. During the later months of pregnancy, with the increase in size and weight of the fetus, women tend to increase the posterior lumbar concavity in an attempt to preserve their center of gravity [19]. Our results showed that LLA also increased by aging in both sexes, more markedly in males (m: 39.12° and 45.70° for the first and second age groups, resp.) than in females (m: 50.03° and 53.81° for the first and second age groups, resp.). These findings are in general in agreement with that of Tüzün et al. [20] who stated that lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis are increased with age. Lee et al. [21] recognized a difference between younger and older subjects; but they accounted this difference to the disparity in flexibility or function of body parts. With lumbar hyperlordosis, the middle thoracic vertebrae tend to be more wedged, and the lumbar vertebrae tend to be more reverse-wedged [22]. Ghandhari et al. [23] agreed that lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis are correlated, so that lumbar lordosis would increase as thoracic kyphosis increases. The thoracic kyphosis angle increases with age and the increase is greater in females than in males [24]. Similar results are recorded in the current study, regarding lumbar lordosis. This increase in lordosis may be attributed to an alteration in the intervertebral discs and a loss in the posterior vertebral body height of lumbar spine. Also, the imbalance in the supporting anterior and posterior soft tissues and musculature might be another contributing factor [25].
Increased lumbar lordosis is one of numerous etiologic factors for low back pain [26]. Also, prolonged sitting is generally accepted as a high risk factor in low back pain; and it is frequently suggested that a lordotic posture of the lumbar spine should be maintained during sitting [27]. Nowadays, measurement of lumbar spine curvature and motion has become common place in the clinical assessment of LBP. It helps in assessment of spinal function and is often used as an outcome measure for clinical intervention studies [28]. The lumbar curvature measurement, as used in Cobb’s method [9], may not fully represent the curvature of the spine as shown in some cases of the current study due to differences in posterior inclination of sacrum (Figures 1(b) and 1(c)). Cobb’s angle reflects changes in the end vertebrae inclination rather than changes within the spinal curvature; moreover, it neglects the translation of the apical vertebra [29]. Therefore, we added the lordosis index (LI) in assessment. This LI showed significant gender differences in both age groups, with value =0.0066 and <0.0001, for the first and second age groups, respectively. It could be useful in the evaluation of lumbar lordosis, as it depends on the ratio of the breadth (depth) of lumbar curvature and height of the lumbar spine.
Lumbar lordosis is formed by the wedging of the lumbar vertebral bodies and of the intervertebral discs [13]. Lordotic or dorsal wedging (ventral height greater than dorsal height) of the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs will increase the LLA, while kyphotic or ventral wedging will decrease it [30]. In the current study, the vertebral bodies as well as the intervertebral discs showed a progressive craniocaudal participation in lumbar lordosis. The vertebral bodies in males showed kyphotic bent in L1, tended to neutral in L2, and then showed progressive lordotic bent from L3 downwards with statistically significant difference between the anterior and posterior heights of the vertebrae. In females, the participation of bodies in lordosis began at higher level, at L2 instead of L3 in males. Similar findings reported that posterior wedging of these vertebrae is about twice as common in females as in males [31]. Bernhardt and Bridwell [32] agreed with the current study that lumbar lordosis usually starts at L1-2 and gradually increases at each level caudally. They added that the lowest three segments account for 80% of the lumbar lordosis. In regard to discs, the current results showed lordotic bent at all levels, progressive in a craniocaudal direction, with maximum lordosis at L5/S1. This trend of increased participation in lumbar lordosis towards caudal segments was also mentioned in other studies [15, 33]. The WI increased by age in the lumbar segments, with statistically significant difference at L5/S1 ().
The lumbar spine is the part of the vertebral column, which is subjected to the compressive load exerted by the incumbent trunk. Its structure is ideally suited to withstand compressive loads [34]. The compressive loads occurred more on the posterior concave aspects, particularly of lower lumbar segments resulting in decrease in the posterior heights and hence increase in lumbar lordosis was noticed in the second age group of the present study (Figures 3(c) and 4(d)).
Despite the X-ray examination being valid and useful for evaluating spinal curvatures, it carries many limitations that include clarifying disc structure and obtaining measurements free from problems due to overlapping of anatomical images [35]. Several studies have proven the accuracy of MRI that has recently become a popular imaging modality, in vertebral measurements, identifying the details of its anatomy [12, 36]. Given its high resolution, it has largely replaced the computed tomography (CT) in the differentiation of the several adjacent structures comprising the spine [36]. We utilized MRI for this study rather than CT scans, because it is more reliable in detecting soft tissue degeneration and hence choosing the cases for study [30]. MRI produces true sagittal tomographic profiles for the spine [37]. In the current study, all cases underwent lumbosacral spine MRI in supine position, with hips and knees flexed, resulting in relative spinal flexion. This position maximizes the dimensions, thus reducing the magnitude of any stenotic effect [38]. Also, it creates a hypolordosis of the lumbar spine relative to the standing position. Positioning the subject in the supine position with extended lower limbs produces the lumbar lordosis of the upright position [39]. In regards to inter- and intraobserver reliability using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the recorded ranges were considered excellent reproducibility. This might render the use of MRI to be more or less an accurate method for study of lumbar spine.
The primary strength of the work was the study of morphology of lumbar lordosis in correlation with other related parameters including the lumbar lordosis angle, lumbar index, and heights of lumbar segments (vertebrae and discs), using highly reliable MRI measures. This is of great value for planning orthopedical surgical procedures, monitoring the progression and treatment of spinal deformities, and determining reference values in normal and pathological conditions [29]. The information is also necessary for constructing accurate mathematical models of the human spine [40]. Such procedures should restore disc height and spine curvature as normally as possible and provide a certain amount of mobility [41].
In conclusion, the study highlights the morphology and dimensions of the lumbar lordosis which represents an important postural factor for sagittal spinal balance. We suggest using WI in association with Cobb’s method of LLA in evaluating lumbar curvature. Further studies using MRI are recommended to confirm presence of any association of lordosis with ethnicity and physical activities. Any wide application of the current parameters has to consider the potential limitations of our sampling populations, such as the effect of body height and weight in vertebral angle.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to express their cordial gratitude to Professor Osama Daoud, Dr. Riham Amir, and Mr. Ahmed Naser at Diagnostic Radiology Department, Zagazig University, for invaluable help and cooperation throughout the work.