A longitudinal study of congruent sagittal spinal alignment in an adult cohort

A 10+-year longitudinal study of 100 adult volunteers. To identify congruent lumbar lordosis in association with other sagittal spinopelvic parameters. The aging spine poses difficult problems in determining appropriate lumbar lordosis. The concept of congruent spinal alignment is preferred over that of normal spinal alignment, yet the definition of sagittal spinal congruity in elderly population has not been well documented. A population-based recruitment of adult volunteers and follow-up of 10+ years was conducted. A total of 100 healthy volunteers with baseline age of 50+ years were subjected to standing entire spine radiographs. Radiologic parameters included lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, sagittal spinal balance, and other sagittal alignments. Average age of the subjects was 62.0 years at baseline and 73.9 years at follow-up. Lumbar lordosis with