Shape and Motion of Each Lumbar Segment in Normal Korean Adults

Purpose: By achieving informations about sagittal shape and motion of each lumbar segment in normal subjects, we tried to get the standards useful in management of spinal disorders and fractures. Materials and Methods: Thirty normal adults without any disorder on their back were adopted. L3 centered thoracolumbar (T-L) X-ray's including standing lateral, AP's in righ-tleft bending, and flexionextension lateral were checked for each person. Cobb angles of each segment were measured. Statistical analysis was done for comparison by gender and correlation of each factors. Results: Body shape of upper lumbar vertebrae was kyphotic but caudal bodies are changed into lordotic gradually. Disc angle was lordotic in all the discs. Segmetal motion in sagittal plane was greatest at L4-L5 (18.6˚). However, segmental motion at coronal plane was largest at L3-L4 (12.6˚). Conclusion: We achieved Korean standard of shape and motion of each lumbar segment. Proportion of each factor contributing to total lumbar lordosis was evaluated also.