Análisis de la morfología del raquis torácico y lumbar en mujeres trabajadoras de una cooperativa hortofrutícola / men Analysis of the thoracic and lumbar morphology in woworkers from a fruit and vegetable company

El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la disposición angular del raquis torácico y lumbar en bipedestación y sedentación relajada en mujeres trabajadoras de una empresa hortofrutícola. Un total de 50 mujeres (media de edad: 43,62+/-8,43 años) fueron evaluadas mediante un spinal mouse en bipedestación y en sedentación relajada. Los valores angulares medios para el raquis torácico y lumbar fueron de 32,74+/-8,76 y -21,66+/-19,12 en bipedestación y de 36,32+/-10,55 y -1,08+/-18,14, en sedentación. En bipedestación, un elevado porcentaje de casos (86 por ciento y 68,3 por ciento) presentaban una cifosis torácica y lordosis lumbar dentro de los valores de normalidad. En sedentación, el 74 por ciento presentaban hipercifosis torácica y el 20 por ciento una inversión lumbar. En conclusión, aunque en bipedestación la mayoría de las mujeres presentaban una morfología del raquis dentro de los valores de normalidad, en sedentación se observó un elevado porcentaje de casos con hipercifosis torácica y el raquis lumbar en inversión. Debido a las consecuencias negativas que se asocian a dichas desalineaciones raquídeas, es recomendable aplicar programas de mejora de la actitud postural en estas trabajadoras, preferentemente en su contexto laboral.

The aim of this study was to analyze the sagittal spinal morphology of thoracic and lumbar spine in standing and sitting in women workers from a cooperative in the production, handling and marketing business of vegetable and fruit products. A total of 50 women (mean age: 43.62+/-8.43 years old) were evaluated. The spinal mouse system was used to mesasure the sagittal thoracic and lumbar curvatures in standing and relaxed sitting. The values for thoracic and lumbar curvatures were 32.74+/-8.76 and -21.66+/-19.12 in standing and 36.32+/-10.55 and -1.08+/-18.14 in sitting. A high frequency (86.0 percent and 68.3 percent) of normal thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis were found in standing posture. While sitting the 74.0 percent and 20.0 percent presented thoracic hyperkyphosis and lumbar kyphosis. In conclusion, a high percentaje of women workers presented normality values in standing posture, although a high percentage of women were found with thoracic hyperkyphosis and lumbar flexed while sitting relaxed. It is recommended that these women carry out a program to improve their actitudinal postures in their work place.

Validation, repeatability and reproducibility of a noninvasive instrument for measuring thoracic and lumbar curvature of the spine in the sagittal plane / Validade, repetibilidade e reprodutibilidade de um instrumento não-invasivo para medição das curvaturas torácica e lombar da coluna vertebral no plano sagital

BACKGROUND: The need for early identification of postural abnormalities without exposing patients to constant radiation has stimulated the development of instruments aiming to measure the spinal curvatures. OBJECTIVE: To verify the validity, repeatability and reproducibility of angular measures of sagittal curvatures of the spine obtained using an adapted arcometer, by comparing them with Cobb angles of the respective curvatures obtained by using X-rays. METHODS: 52 participants were submitted to two procedures designed to evaluate the thoracic and lumbar curvatures: (1) X-ray examination from which the Cobb angles (CA) of both curvatures were obtained, and (2) measuring the angles with the arcometer (AA). Two evaluators collected the data using the arcometer, with the rods placed at T1, T12, L1 and L5 spinous processes levels in a way as to permit linear measurements which, with aid of trigonometry, supplied the AA. RESULTS: There was a very strong and significant correlation between AA and CA (r=0.94; p<0.01), with no-significant difference (p=0.32), for the thoracic curvature. There was a strong and significant correlation for the lumbar curvature (r=0.71; p<0.01) between AA and CA, with no-significant difference (p=0.30). There is a very strong correlation between intra-evaluator and inter-evaluator AA. CONCLUSION: It was possible to quantify reliably the thoracic and lumbar curvatures with the arcometer and it can thus be considered valid and reliable and for use in evaluating spinal curvatures in the sagittal plane.

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A necessidade de identificação precoce de alterações posturais, sem expor as pessoas à radiação constante, tem estimulado a construção de instrumentos para medir as curvaturas da coluna vertebral. OBJETIVO: Verificar a validade, repetibilidade e reprodutibilidade dos ângulos das curvaturas sagitais da coluna vertebral, obtidos por meio de um arcômetro adaptado, comparando-os com os ângulos de Cobb (AC) das respectivas curvaturas, obtidos por meio de exames radiográficos. MÉTODOS: Cinquenta e dois indivíduos foram submetidos a dois procedimentos destinados a avaliar as curvaturas torácica e lombar: (1) exame de raios-X, a partir do qual os AC de ambas as curvaturas foram obtidos e (2) medição dos ângulos das curvaturas com o arcômetro (AA). Dois avaliadores coletaram os dados usando o arcômetro com as hastes sobre os processos espinhosos T1, T12, L1 e L5, de modo a permitir medidas que, com auxílio de trigonometria, forneceram os AA. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se correlação muito forte e significativa entre AA e AC (r=0,94, p<0,01), sem diferença significativa (p=0,32) para a curvatura torácica, enquanto, para a curvatura lombar, encontrou-se uma forte e significativa correlação (r=0,71, p<0,01) entre AA e AC, sem diferença significativa (p=0,30). Existe uma correlação muito forte intra-avaliador e inter-avaliador nos AA. CONCLUSÃO: O arcômetro permitiu quantificar as curvaturas torácica e lombar, podendo-se considerar as medições válidas, fidedignas e objetivas para uso na avaliação de curvaturas da coluna vertebral no plano sagital.

Efficacy of PEEK Cages and Plate Augmentation in Three-Level Anterior Cervical Fusion of Elderly Patients

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of three-level anterior cervical arthrodesis with polyethyletherketone (PEEK) cages and plate fixation for aged and osteoporotic patients with degenerative cervical spinal disorders. METHODS: Twenty one patients, who had undergone three-level anterior cervical arthrodesis with a cage and plate construct for degenerative cervical spinal disorder from November 2001 to April 2007 and were followed up for at least two years, were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 71.7 years and the mean T-score using the bone mineral density was -2.8 SD. The fusion rate, change in cervical lordosis, adjacent segment degeneration were analyzed by plain radiographs and computed tomography, and the complications were assessed by the medical records. The clinical outcomes were analyzed using the SF-36 physical composite score (PCS) and neck disability index (NDI). RESULTS: Radiological fusion was observed at a mean of 12.3 weeks (range, 10 to 15 weeks) after surgery. The average angle of cervical lordosis was 5degrees preoperatively, 17.6degrees postoperatively and 16.5degrees at the last follow-up. Degenerative changes in the adjacent segments occurred in 3 patients (14.3%), but revision surgery was unnecessary. In terms of instrument-related complications, there was cage subsidence in 5 patients (23.8%) with an average of 2.8 mm, and loosening of the plate and screw occurred in 3 patients (14.3%) but there were no clinical problems. The SF-36 PCS before surgery, second postoperative week and at the last follow-up was 29.5, 43.1, and 66.2, respectively. The respective NDI was 55.3, 24.6, and 15.9. CONCLUSIONS: For aged and osteoporotic patients with degenerative cervical spinal disorders, three-level anterior cervical arthrodesis with PEEK cages and plate fixation reduced the pseudarthrosis and adjacent segment degeneration and improved the clinical outcomes. This method is considered to be a relatively safe and effective treatment modality.

Comparación entre dos métodos utilizados para medir la curva lumbar / Comparison of two method for measuring the lumbar curve

Las alteraciones posturales tales como hiperlordosis, aumento de la cifosis, cifolordosis y escoliosis en columna, producen complicaciones a nivel músculo-esquelético y articular. Debido a esto, es que en el último tiempo ha aumentado el número de atenciones kinésicas por patologías de la columna lumbar, he aquí la importancia de un test clínico que cuente con la confiabilidad necesaria para determinar la curvatura lumbar. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si existen diferencias en los resultados entre los dos métodos utilizados para medir la curva lumbar: el test clínico de las flechas sagitales y el ángulo de la columna lumbar mediante radiografías. En una muestra de 32 pacientes de edad promedio 44,93 (+/- 12,67 años) evaluados en el Servicio de Kinesiología del Centro Médico Megasalud de Viña del Mar entre los meses de Marzo y Agosto del 2008. El procedimiento utilizado fue el examen clínico, en el cual se usó una plomada que va desde C7, pasando por la línea ínterglútea. En el plano sagital se mide la curvatura lumbar a nivel de L3. Para la medición del ángulo de la curvatura lumbar se utilizó una radiografía proyección lateral en la cual se proyectan las mesetas superior de L1 e inferior de L5 para la conformación del ángulo lumbar y su posterior medición. El resultado obtenido por medio del examen clínico entre el test de las flechas sagitales y las radiografías del ángulo de la lordosis lumbar para un índice de concordancia de Kappa, fue mayor o igual a un 95 por ciento. De esta manera, se obtuvo que el test de las flechas sagitales es una herramienta válida para la pesquisa de patologías lumbares, al igual que la radiografía, con una marcada diferencia en el costo económico entre ambas.

The altered posture, such as hiperlordosis, increase in kyphosis, and scoliosis in cifolordosis column complications occur at the muscular, skeletal and articulate. Because of this, is that in recent times to increase the number of benefits for kinesics pathologies of the lumbar spine, and here the importance of a clinical test that has the confidence necessary to determine lumbar curvature. The objective of the study seeks to determine whether there are differences in outcomes between the two methods used to measure the lumbar curve, the test of the arrows sagitales and the angle of the lumbar spine using x-rays in patients greater than or equal to 21 years, as assessed the service kinesiology of Centro Médico Megasalud of Viña del Mar, between the months of March and August 2008. The procedure used was by means of physical examination, which uses a plumb line that runs from C7 through inter gluteal line in the sagittal plane was measured at the lumbar curvature of L3 and compared with the measurement of the angle curvature of the lumbar measured by radiographic position in bipedal in a side view in 32 adults, measures of kinesiology at the service of the Medical Center Megasalud of Viña del Mar, Chile. The result obtained by means of physical examination between the test of the arrows sagitales versus the angle of the lumbar lordosis measured by X-rays, reached a record of correlation between the two diagnostic tests greater than or equal to 95 percent. In conclusion we can say that the test of the arrows sagitales is a valid tool for the investigation of lumbar pathologies, like radiography, with a marked difference in cost between the two.

Correlation between lumbar lordosis angle and degree of gynoid lipodystrophy (cellulite) in asymptomatic women

INTRODUCTION: Gynoid lipodystrophy (cellulite) has been cited as a common dermatological alteration. It occurs mainly in adult women and tends to gather around the thighs and buttocks. Its presence and severity have been related to many factors, including biotype, age, sex, circulatory changes, and, as some authors have suggested, mechanical alterations such as lumbar hyperlordosis. OBJECTIVE: To correlate the degree of cellulite with the angle of lumbar lordosis in asymptomatic women. METHODS: Fifty volunteers were evaluated by digital photos, palpation, and thermograph. The degree of cellulite was classified on a scale of 1-4. Analyses were performed on the superior, inferior, right and left buttocks (SRB, IRB, SLB, ILB), and the superior right and left thighs (SRT, SLT). The volunteers underwent a lateral-view X-ray, and the angle of lumbar lordosis was measured using Cobb's method (inferior endplate of T12 and the superior endplate of S). The data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Spearman's correlation. A significance level of 5 percent was adopted. RESULTS: Volunteers had a mean age of 26.1 ± 4.4 years and a mean body mass index of 20.7 ± 1.9 kg/m². There was no significant difference in lumbar lordosis angle between those with cellulite classes 2 and 3 (p > 0.297). There was also no correlation between lumbar lordosis angle and the degree of cellulite (p > 0.085 and r > 0.246). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis suggests that there is no correlation between the degree of cellulite and the angle of lumbar lordosis as measured using Cobb's method.