In vivo measurements of lumbar segmental motion during axial rotation in asymptomatic and chronic low back pain male subjects.
METHODS
Twenty male volunteers in their 30s (10 asymptomatic and 10 chronic low back pain) were passively rotated and CT scanned to determine lumbar segmental motion.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the feasibility of measuring 3-dimensional segmental motion in vivo in pain subjects.


BACKGROUND
Axial rotational spinal instability has been implicated as a potential cause of low back pain. Previous studies have not compared 3-dimensional segmental motions between healthy and symptomatic subjects due to torsion.


METHODS
Lumbar segmental motions were calculated using volume merge method in 3 major planes from 3-dimensional CT reconstructions. Disc degeneration grade was analyzed from MRI using the Thompson's grading method.


RESULTS
All subjects could perform the imaging study without significant increase in pain. No differences were seen in disc degeneration grade or segmental motions between the 2 groups. Segmental motion differences were seen in torsion, lateral bending, and frontal translation based on spinal level.


CONCLUSIONS
Current noninvasive CT-based method is feasible for use in healthy and low back pain subjects. Measured segmental motions were similar to other studies in torsion; however, other motions have not been measured previously.
Ochia
Ruth S
RS
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Inoue
Nozomu
N
Takatori
Ryota
R
Andersson
Gunnar B J
GB
An
Howard S
HS
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014102:Torsion Abnormality