Change in Sagittal Spine and Spinopelvic Parrameters in Children during Growth

Introduction & During child’s motion development and growth, sagittal parameters of spine and spinopelvic, such as thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, pelvic tilt, change in order to preserve the global sagittal balance. Correct concept of normal spinopelvic parameters of children would effectively help spinal surgeons assessing spinal deformities and proper planning for treatment. There was no study about this subject in Iran. We aimed to determine spinopelvic parameters in 8-19 years old Iranians for the first time, in order to demonstrate pelvic and spinal sagittal parameters change during growth. Subjects of our study were 98 healthy students (50 boys and 48 girls), aged 8-19 years, who live in Tehran. Each subject was examined by an orthopedic surgeon. Spinal radiographs in lateral view were obtained at Shafa Yahyaian radiology center. Eight spinopelvic parameters (thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, thoracic, lumbar and pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, sacral slope and sagittal balance) were measured by 2 orthopedic surgeons on each standing lateral total spine radiograph. Data were described with mean standard deviation, frequency and percentage. Then different group were compared with “ANOVA” and “Duncan” test. Level of significance was considered to be 0.05 in all tests. Nighty eight subjects 48 girls (49%) and 50 boys (51%) with the mean age of 13.6±2.9 years (range: 8-19) were examined. Maximum TK was in the 14-16 year age group (mean 40.8) that was significantly different with that of 8-10 year age group. Age had significant and positive correlation with thoracic kyphosis but had no correlation with the other sagittal parameters. This means that TK increases during growth. Thus, we should note these changes in decision making in the treatment of spinal deformity, and in the reconstruction of normal curve during spinal surgery.