Kinematics of the thoracic spine in trunk rotation: in vivo 3-dimensional analysis

In vivo 3-dimensional (3D) study of the thoracic spine.

To demonstrate axial rotations (ARs) and coupled motions of the thoracic spine.

In vivo 3D kinematics of the thoracic spine in trunk rotation with intact thorax and soft tissues has not been well-known.There were no quantitative data of AR in the consecutive thoracic spinal segments. Patterns of coupled motion with AR have been controversial.

Thirteen healthy volunteers underwent 3D computed tomography of the thoracic spine in 3 positions; neutral, right, and left maximum trunk rotation. Relative motions of vertebrae were calculated by automatically superimposing the vertebrae in a neutral position over images in rotational positions, using voxel-based registration. Motions were represented with 6 degrees of freedom by Euler angles and translations on the local coordinate system.

Mean (± SD) relative rotational angles of T1 with respect to L1 to 1 side were 24.9° ± 4.9° in maximum trunk rotation. AR of each thoracic segment with respect to the inferior adjacent vertebra to 1 side was 1.2° ± 0.8° at T1-T2, 1.6° ± 0.7° at T2-T3, 1.4° ± 0.9° at T3-T4, 1.6° ± 0.8° at T4-T5, 1.8° ± 0.7° at T5-T6, 1.9° ± 0.6° at T6-T7, 2.3° ± 0.7° at T7-T8, 2.5° ± 0.8° at T8-T9, 2.7° ± 0.6° at T9-T10, 2.6° ± 0.8° at T10-T11, 1.3° ± 0.7° at T11-T12, and 0.5° ± 0.4° at T12-L1. Significantly larger segmental AR was observed at the middle thoracic segments (T6-T11) than at the upper (T1-T6) and lower (T11-L1) segments. At the upper thoracic segments, coupled lateral bending with AR was observed in the same direction as AR. However, at the middle and lower thoracic segments, coupled lateral bending occurred both in the same and opposite directions.

In vivo 3D ARs and coupled motions of the consecutive thoracic spinal segments in trunk rotation were investigated accurately for the first time.