Normal sagittal parameters of global spinal balance in children and adolescents: a prospective study of 646 asymptomatic subjects.
To document values for parameters of global spinal balance in asymptomatic children and adolescents.



Multicenter prospective study of normal sagittal global spinal balance in Caucasian children and adolescents. Spinosacral angle (SSA), spinal tilt (ST), and C7 translation ratio were evaluated in 646 asymptomatic children and adolescents (276 males and 370 females).



Mean and standard deviation for SSA, ST, and C7 translation ratio were, respectively 132.1° ± 8.3°, 93.2° ± 4.6° and -0.7 ± 8.3. Mean ± 2 standard deviations were, respectively 116°-149° for SSA and 84°-102° for ST. C7 plumbline was behind the HA (hip axis) in 78 % of subjects. Correlations between global balance and age were small (-0.17 ≤ r ≤ 0.19).



Asymptomatic children and adolescents tend to stand with a stable global balance, and 95 % have an SSA and ST between 116° and 149° and 85°-102°, respectively. C7 plumbline in front of the HA is not necessarily associated with a spinal pathology.
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada.|Department of Surgery, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C4, Canada.
Gabriel
G
Gutman
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada.|Department of Surgery, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C4, Canada.
Hubert
H
Labelle
Department of Surgery, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C4, Canada.
Soraya
S
Barchi
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Centre Médico-Chirurgical de Réadaptation des Massues, Lyon, France.
Pierre
P
Roussouly
Clinical Research Unit, L'Hôpital Nord Ouest Villefranche, Villefranche/Saône, France.
Éric
É
Berthonnaud
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, H3C 3J7, Canada. macthiong@gmail.com.|Department of Surgery, CHU Sainte-Justine, 3175 Ch. de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1C4, Canada. macthiong@gmail.com.|Department of Surgery, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, 5400 Boul Gouin O, Montréal, Québec, H4J 1C5, Canada. macthiong@gmail.com.
Jean-Marc
JM
Mac-Thiong
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D013131:Spine / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D044465:White People
Adolescents; Children; Global spinal balance; Normal population; Posture; Sagittal alignment