Normal spinopelvic parameters and correlation analysis in 217 asymptomatic children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Spine Surgery
• Radiology

Background:

• Spinal sagittal balance is critical for diagnosing and managing pediatric spinal deformities.
• Understanding normal spinal alignment in children is essential for identifying deviations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze sagittal alignment parameters in the spine and spinopelvic region of asymptomatic children.
• To investigate how these parameters change with age and sex in the pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• Radiographic measurements of pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, T1 slope, C7 slope, cervical sagittal vertical axis, and C2-7 Cobb angle were performed on 217 children (ages 4-15).
• Measurements were conducted by three spine surgeons using PACS software, with reliability assessed via ICCs.

Main Results:

• Significant age-related changes were observed in pelvic tilt and cervical sagittal vertical axis.
• Gender differences were noted in pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis, and thoracic kyphosis, with girls exhibiting larger pelvic tilt and boys larger cervical sagittal vertical axis.
• Pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, and cervical sagittal vertical axis varied across different age groups, with correlations aligning with adult patterns.

Conclusions:

• Significant variations in pelvic tilt and cervical sagittal vertical axis across pediatric age groups indicate distinct distributional patterns.
• Gender-based differences in pelvic tilt, lumbar lordosis, and thoracic kyphosis, along with spinopelvic parameter correlations, deepen the understanding of compensatory mechanisms in pediatric spinal alignment.