Comparison of Parameters Characterizing Lumbar Lordosis in Radiograph and Photogrammetric Examination of Adults

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to test validity of photogrammetry compared with radiography as a method of measuring the Cobb angle and the size of anterior-posterior spine curvatures in adults. Methods The study included 50 volunteers, 23 men and 27 women whose mean age was 52.6 years. The average weight of the subjects was 81.3 kg, average body height was 172.0 cm, and the average body mass index was 27.4. Based on radiologic examination, the length and depth of lumbar lordosis were determined and the size of the Cobb angle of lumbar scoliosis. After the radiologic examination, a photogrammetric test was performed for each subject with the projection moire phenomenon. Results The Pearson correlation found statistically significant associations concerning the length of lordosis ( P < .001) and the Cobb angle ( P < .001). Correlation of the depth of lordosis indicated a strong trend ( P = .063). Conclusions This study found that the moire method of photogrammetric measurement produced similar findings to radiographic measurements in determining size of the Cobb angle and the length of lumbar lordosis.