Age-related Changes in Cervical Sagittal Alignment: A Radiographic Analysis
Ray Tang1, Ivan B Ye, Zoe B Cheung
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Spine
|July 2, 2019
Summary
As people age, cervical sagittal alignment changes, showing increased cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. These age-related changes in spinal alignment can impact neck posture and health.
Area of Science:
- Spine surgery
- Orthopedics
- Radiology
Background:
- Cervical sagittal balance is crucial for maintaining neutral head posture and horizontal gaze.
- Aging-related degenerative changes can alter cervical sagittal balance, potentially causing neck pain and other pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related modifications in cervical sagittal parameters.
- To correlate specific cervical parameters with patient age using radiographic data.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study involving 151 patients and their lateral cervical spine radiographs.
- Measurement of cervical sagittal parameters including C1 inclination, C2 slope, C2-C7 Cobb angle, cSVA, cervical tilt, C7 slopes, T1 slope, and TS-CL.
- Statistical analysis using Pearson correlation, linear regression, and ANOVA to assess age-related changes.
Main Results:
- Significant positive correlations were found between age and C2-C7 Cobb angle, upper and lower C7 slopes, and T1 slope.
- Upper and lower C7 slopes showed the strongest correlation with age in regression analysis.
- ANOVA revealed significant differences in C2-C7 Cobb angle, C7 slopes, and T1 slope across age groups, with older patients (>64 years) exhibiting higher values.
Conclusions:
- Age-related changes in cervical sagittal alignment are characterized by increased cervical lordosis.
- Increased thoracic kyphosis is also associated with aging.
- These findings highlight significant alterations in spinal alignment over the lifespan.
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