Association Between Roussouly Classification and Characteristics of Lumbar Degeneration

Different sagittal morphologies are associated with various lumbar degenerative diseases. In this paper, we aim to investigate the association between Roussouly classification and the characteristics of lumbar degeneration.

A total of 273 patients with lumbar degeneration diseases were included in this cross-sectional study. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the Roussouly classification. The degeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) and facet joint was evaluated by Pfirrmann and Pathria grading scales, respectively. Our goal was to elucidate the degenerative characteristics of diverse lumbar sagittal morphologies by comparing the degeneration degree of IVDs and facet joints between 4 groups.

The differences in sacral slope and lumbar lordosis were significant between the 4 groups (P < 0.05). Type 2 lumbar spine had the highest proportion of high-grade disc degeneration compared with other subtypes (P < 0.05), types 1 and 2 had a higher proportion of high-grade degeneration than types 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). However, type 4 lumbar spine had the highest proportion of high-grade facet joint degeneration compared with other subtypes (P < 0.05), types 3 and 4 had a higher proportion of high-grade degeneration than types 1 and 2 (P < 0.05).

Risks of advanced disc degeneration are higher for patients with lumbar spine morphologies of Roussouly type 1 or type 2, especially for patients with type 2 lumbar spine, whereas high-grade degeneration of facet joint tends to occur in type 3 and type 4 lumbar spine, especially for individuals with type 4 lumbar spine.