A comparative analysis of sagittal spinopelvic alignment between young and old men without localized disc degeneration

Introduction The purpose of this study was to compare the sagittal spinopelvic parameters between young normal asymptomatic adults and older normal asymptomatic adults without localized segmental disc degeneration. Materials and methods Standing sagittal radiographs of the whole spine including the pelvis in 342 adult male volunteers (Group 1: n = 184, average age 21.2 years, range 19–28 vs. Group 2: n = 158, average age 63.8 years, range 53–79) were analyzed prospectively. Volunteers with history of spine operation, spinal disease, chronic pain in their back or legs, scoliosis, spondylolisthesis, 1–3 segmental disc space narrowing, and/or compression fractures in radiographs were excluded. The following parameters were included: thoracic kyphosis between T5 upper endplate (UEP) and T12 lower endplate (LEP), thoracolumbar kyphosis (T10 UEP − L2 LEP), T12 LEP-horizontal (H) angle (minus denotes EP above the H line), lumbar lordosis (T12 LEP − S1 UEP), lower lumbar lordosis (L4 UEP − S1 UEP), sacral slope, pelvic incidence and distances from C7 plumb/T12 plumb to the postero-superior endplate of S1. Group 2 (old men group) demonstrated larger thoracic kyphosis (30.1° ± 8.6° vs. 21.1° ± 7.8° in Group 1, P