Three dimensional digital study and clinical significance of thoracic joint angle in children aged from 10 to 12 years / 局解手术学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the morphological characteristics and change rule of thoracic joint angles in children aged from 10 to 12 years through thinner CT scanning and 3D reconstruction,and to provide theoretical basis for early diagnosis,treatment and prevention.Methods Totally 30 normal cases aged from 10 to 12 years were admitted into this study.There was no bone destruction,deformity,fractures,tumors and spine surgery involved.DICOM 3.0 data of multi-slice spiral CT (0.625 ～ 1.25 mm),ranging from T1 to T12,were used for 3D reconstruction,measurement and statistical analysis.Results The difference between left and right sagittal section angle of zygopophysis was less than 10°.There was no significant differences between T1,T11,and T12for sagittal section angle of upper zygopophysis (P ＞ 0.05).So was it between T3,T4,T9,T10 and T11 for sagittal section angle of lower zygopophysis (P ＞ 0.05).While there were significant differences between others(P ＜ 0.05).The was no significant difference between left and right coronal plane angle of zygopophysis (P ＞ 0.05).Coronal plane angle of lower and upper zygopophysis tended to be ‘ spike-like’,and the maximum points were at T7 to T9.For horizontal plane angle,left and right upper zygopophysis made significant differences between T2,T4,T8,T10 and T12 only,so did T7 lower zygopophysis (P ＜ 0.05).Horizontal angle of upper zygopophysis tended to be stable in the upper thoracic both in the left and right side,while a decreasing trend was shown in lower thoracic.Horizontal angle of lower zygopophysis showed a decreasing trend generally except individual vertebrae.Both upper and lower zygopophysis showed negative angle at T11 and T12 levels.Conclusion Thoracic joint angles(coronal,sagittal and horizontal angle) in children aged from 10 to 12 years can directly reflect the developmental regularity with growth,and it verified the tendency that horizontal facet joints of the cervical spine gradually changes to coronal facet joints thoracic spine and then changes to sagittal facet joints of lumbar spine.And the left and right side facet joints are basically symmetrical with the angle difference less than 10°.