The lumbar spine in spastic diplegia. A radiographic study

Abstract

Some radiological features of the lumbar spine of 84 patients with spastic diplegia were compared with 50 control subjects. The average age of the patients was 20.1 years (3 to 39). Spondylolysis of the fifth lumbar vertebra was found in 21%, four times more frequently than in normal subjects. No patient under nine years of age had spondylolysis and the frequency increased with age. The average angle of lumbar lordosis in spastic patients in the standing position was greater than in normal subjects, and increased with age. The patients had a decreased sacrofemoral angle which caused an increase in Ferguson's angle and explained the increased angle of lumbar lordosis.

RETRACTED: Reliability and validity of the AutoCAD software method in lumbar lordosis measurement

“…2 Normal lumbar lordosis may range from 31°t o 50°according to the Cobb radiographic method (lumbar lordosis is measured using the superior end plate of L1 and the inferior end plate of L5). 3,4 Considering the prevalence of spinal anomalies in general and lumbar lordosis in particular and its negative effects on spinal movement and preparing for waist, neck, and back pain, 5,6 it seems essential to diagnose these anomalies in the best way to decrease their harmful effects. There are different measurement methods for diagnosing spinal column anomalies such as flexible ruler, [7][8][9][10][11] spinal mouse, 12,13 inclinometer, 14,15 index method, 16 and kyphometer.…”

Neuromuscular Diseases

“…Patients with CP, especially those with spastic diplegia, often suffer from low back pain, which restricts their ability to walk and impairs their quality of life [ 14 ]. This may be due to increased thoracic kyphosis ( forces, leading to spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis.…”

“…This may be due to increased thoracic kyphosis ( forces, leading to spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Spondylolysis of the fi fth lumbar vertebra is found in 21 % of children with CP, four times more often than in normal subjects [ 14 ]. In severely disabled patients, developmental abnormalities of the spine become evident in early childhood, presumably the result of decreased activity, lack of erect weight bearing, abnormal posture, and muscle imbalance.…”

Effect of load carriage on chronic low back pain in adults with cerebral palsy

“…1,4 Studies on the aetiology and management of LBP in the CP population are limited and the findings inconclusive. Harada et al 5 found that spastic diplegia with lumbar hyperlordosis were prone to develop LBP due to spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis. Their findings fall in line with an earlier claim that LBP in CP was related to hip flexion contractures.…”