Physiological rotation patterns of the thoracolumbar spine across different ages: A detailed analysis using upright CT

Abstract

BackgroundThe rotational motion of the spine plays a crucial role in daily activities. Understanding the mechanisms of spinal rotation is essential for evaluating normal spinal function, especially in standing positions due to the influence of gravity. However, previous studies on spinal rotation have been limited. Research QuestionWhat are the differences in thoracolumbar rotation during trunk rotation in a standing position among different age and gender groups? MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 49 healthy volunteers without back pain, including 24 younger participants (13 males, 11 females) and 25 elderly participants (12 males, 13 females). Upright and trunk-rotated CT (right-rotated standing positions) scans were taken. Vertebral rotation was measured using the femoral head center as an axis. ResultsAnalysis of spinal alignment in the standing position revealed mild rotation from the lumbar to thoracic vertebrae. The lumbar spine exhibited left rotation at apex of L3 (L3: −1.3±3.8°, p=0.01), while the lower thoracic spine showed right rotation at apex of T8 (T8: 1.9±2.4°, p<0.001) and the upper thoracic spine showed left rotation at apex of T3 (T3: −2.6±2.9°, p<0.001). The lumbar spine showed minimal rotation during maximum trunk rotation, with significant rotation noted above T10 (16 % vs 84 %). The total thoracolumbar spinal rotation at T1 showed significant differences by gender and age (male vs. female: 23.9±° vs. 30.3±°, p=0.001; young vs. elderly: 29.2±° vs. 25.0±°, p=0.028; elderly male vs. elderly female: 19.2±° vs. 30.4±°, p<0.001). Younger participants did not show significant gender differences, while elderly females retained more rotation compared to males. SignificanceThis pioneering study provides the first detailed report on the range of spinal rotation in a physiological standing situation, highlighting significant differences by gender and age. These findings offer new insights into the natural patterns of spinal rotation and their potential implications for diagnosing and treating spinal disorders.