Multiplicity of influencing factors in thoracic kyphosis / 中国矫形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

[Objective]To examine the relationship of thoracic kyphosis with gender,age,shape of thoracic vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs.[Method]The gender,age data and MR films of Thoracic spines of 61 cases were collected in a retrospective study.The MR films were scanned into computer.Vertebral and disc morphology,as represented by antero-posterior height ratios,were quantified in computer.Kyphosis was indicated by the Cobb angle.Pearsons correlation analysis and stepwise regression were applied to examine relationship between them.[Result]Vertebral morphology was highly related with thoracic curvature,while a poorer association was noted to disc morphology.The combined infuence of both morphology of vertebral body and intervertebral disc accounted for the variability in kyphosis in 81% female,and 72% in male.[Conclusion]The normal kyphosis of the thoracic spine is determined by the morphological state of both the vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs,especially in female.