The Correlations between Lumbar Lordosis, L_4-5 Disc Angle, L_4-5 Disc Height, and the Lumbosacral Angle in L_4-5 HNP Patients

Abstract

[Purpose] This study was conducted to examine the degree of lumbar lordosis, L_4-5 disc angle, L_4-5 disc height and the lumbosacral angle in L_4-5 herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) patients and analyze the correlations between these variables to examine the relationship between HNP and abnormal sagittal spinal alignment. [Subjects] The study subjects were 15 lumbar spine 4-5 (L_4-5) HNP patients; the control group comprised 15 normal adults. [Methods] Both groups' magnetic resonance imaging scans were compared and analyzed. [Results] The HNP group showed a significantly smaller degree of lumbar lordosis, L_4-5 disc angle, L_4-5 disc height, and lumbosacral angle (p<0.05). I was also shown that as the degree of lumbar lordosis decreased, the disc angle, disc height, and lumbosacral angle decreased. [Conclusion] We found that L_4-5 HNP patients have abnormal sagittal spinal alignments.