PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - ARVIND G. KULKARNI
AU  - SAMEER RUPAREL
AU  - SUNILA JAGGI
AU  - NIHKIL MURKEY
TI  - Decade-Wise Computed Tomography–Based Morphometric Measurements of a Single Lumbar Spinal Motion Segment L4-5
AID  - 10.14444/7113
DP  - 2020 Oct 01
TA  - International Journal of Spine Surgery
PG  - 795--803
VI  - 14
IP  - 5
4099  - http://ijssurgery.com//content/14/5/795.short
4100  - http://ijssurgery.com//content/14/5/795.full
SO  - Int J Spine Surg2020 Oct 01; 14
AB  - Background: A spinal motion segment comprises facet joints and intervertebral disc. A complex interplay of biomechanical factors occurs between them with degeneration giving rise to numerous pathological conditions. We conducted a study to find a correlation between facet joint orientation and intervertebral discs with age.Methods: A cross-sectional study of 203 consecutive subjects undergoing a computed tomography scan of abdomen and pelvis were included. Subjects were divided into 5 groups based on age (group I: 18–30 years; group II: 31–40 years; group III: 41–50 years; group IV: 51–60 years; group V: 61–70 years). Using 3-dimensional reconstruction images, orientation of lumbar facet joints at the L4-5 level was measured. Similarly, adjacent disc heights at L3-4 and L4-5 were measured and their ratio was documented.Results: The study included 106 males and 97 females. A positive correlation was noted between age and sagittal facet orientation until age 60 years. However, after age 60 years, a negative correlation with age was seen, which was statistically significant. Similarly, the disc height ratios show a progressive decline in their values with age. However, this decline was statistically significant only after age 60 years.Conclusion: The gradual change of facet joint orientation from sagittal to coronal as the age crosses from 30 to 60, to beyond 60, with a simultaneous and parallel diminishing in the disc height probably is one of the attributes of the phenomenon of autostabilization of a motion segment.