• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.447-451
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• 2012

Objective : To characterize the importance of the vertical angle of the sacral curvature (VASC) in lumbar disc herniations. Methods : Morphological data derived from lumbar sagittal MRI imaging. The statistical significance of the findings are discussed. The angles of 60 female patients with lumbar disc herniations (LDH) were compared with the 34 female patients without LDH. Results : 128 of the 185 patients met our inclusion criteria. The vertical angle of sacral curvature is statistically significantly bigger in females with lumbar disc herniations when compared to subjects in control group, 28.32 and 25.4, respectively. (p=0.034<0.05). Same difference was not seen in males. Conclusion : The vertical angle of sagittal sacral curvature may be another risk factor in females with lumbar disc herniations.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2010

Objectives : The authors aimed to determine the presence of relationships between cervical pain and cervical curvature, lumbar curvature, sacral slope and sagittal spinal balance. Methods : Medical records of outpatients who made their first visits to the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Spine center at Kyung Hee East-West Neo Medical Center between September 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009 were evaluated. A total of 50 patients visiting within the time period had visited with a chief complaint of cervical pain, and had lateral entire spine X-rays taken. After excluding patients with previous spine operations, 46 patients were selected for the final analysis. The cervical lordotic angle(CLA), lumbar lordotic angle(LLA), Ferguson's angle(FA), and sagittal vertical axis(SVA) were measured on the lateral entire spine X-ray cuts, and the relationships between these values and patient gender, age, chief complaint, and duration of symptoms were assessed. Results : No significant difference was found in relationships between gender and measured values. SVA showed statistically significant correlation between age, but CLA, LLA, and FA was not. There was a significant difference in SVA between patients with only cervical pain and those with both cervical pain and low back pain. Patients with a duration of symptoms longer than 6 months showed a statistically significant difference in SVA with those who had shorter symptoms. Correlation analysis between measured values was statistically significant only between LLA and FA. Conclusions : Evaluation and treatment of sagittal imbalance should be considered in patients presenting with cervical pain if symptoms have persisted for over 6 months or have accompanying low back pain.