Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the cervical sagittal parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare them with the parameters obtained from healthy patients in a sample of the Brazilian population. Methods: Epidemiological data were collected and 72 radiographs of the cervical spine in the sagittal plane were evaluated by measuring the cervical sagittal parameters COG-C7 (distance measured between the center of gravity of the head and the C7 plumb line -cranial offset), C2-C7 lordosis (vertebrae from C2 to C7), T1S (T1 slope), TIA (thoracic inlet angle) and NT (neck tilt). Statistical analysis was performed using the Student’s t and chi-square tests. Results: The TIA and NT values in the RA group were 88.8° ± 12.6° and 54.5° ± 9.3°, respectively, while for the control group, they were 77.7° ± 7.9° and 50.5° ± 7.7°, respectively, the RA group values being statistically higher than the control group values (p <0.001 and p = 0.050, respectively). The values obtained for COG-C7, C2-C7 lordosis and T1S for the RA group were 9.4 ± 16.4mm, 25° ± 22.4° and 2.6° ± 10.1°, respectively, while for the control group they were 11.8 ± 17.6mm, 26.8° ± 12.5° and 30.9° ± 8.4°, respectively. Conclusions: Patients with RA present changes in the thoracic inlet parameters as compared to the control group, with a statistically significant increase in the TIA and NT values, outlining a characteristic compensatory pattern for maintaining cervical sagittal balance. Level of evidence III; Controlled cross-sectional study.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints
To analyze the cervical sagittal parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and compare them with the parameters obtained from healthy patients in a sample of the Brazilian population
Epidemiological data were collected and 72 radiographs of the cervical spine in the sagittal plane were evaluated by measuring the cervical sagittal parameters COG-C7, C2-C7 lordosis, T1S (T1 slope), TIA and NT
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease that affects the synovial joints. RA affects about 1% - 2% of the adult population worldwide It is two times more common in females and it has repercussions for the economic involvement of the patient and of the country.[3,4] Described for the first time in 1890 by Garrod, involvement of the cervical spine was observed in 34% of the 500 RA patients evaluated.[5] The cervical spine is the second most common site of rheumatoid arthritis involvement, present in more than 80% of patients with this disease.[6,7,8]
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