In vivo measurements of lumbar segmental motion during axial rotation in asymptomatic and chronic low back pain male subjects.

STUDY DESIGN

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.

OBJECTIVES

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

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

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.