Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32160727›Full record

ArticleAsian spine journal2021

Sagittal Radiographic Parameters of the Spine in Three Physiological Postures Characterized Using a Slot Scanner and Their Potential Implications on Spinal Weight-Bearing Properties.

Hwee Weng Dennis Hey, Nathaniel Li-Wen Ng, Khin Yee Sammy Loh, Yong Hong Tan, Kimberly-Anne Tan, Vikaesh Moorthy, Eugene Tze Chun Lau, Gabriel Liu, Hee-Kit Wong

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Asian spine journal, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 39% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Hwee Weng Dennis HeyUniversity Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
Nathaniel Li-Wen NgUniversity Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
Khin Yee Sammy LohYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore.
Yong Hong TanYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore.
Kimberly-Anne TanUniversity Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
Vikaesh MoorthyYong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore.
Eugene Tze Chun LauUniversity Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
Gabriel LiuUniversity Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
Hee-Kit WongUniversity Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
National University Health System · SGNational University of Singapore · SG

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

STUDY

designProspective radiographic comparative study. PURPOSE: To compare and understand the load-bearing properties of each functional spinal unit (FSU) using three commonly assumed, physiological, spinal postures, namely, the flexed (slump sitting), erect (standing) and extended (backward bending) postures. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Sagittal spinal alignment is posture-dependent and influences the load-bearing properties of the spine. The routine placement of intervertebral cages "as anterior as possible" to correct deformity may compromise the load-bearing capabilities of the spine, leading to complications.

methodsWe recruited young patients with nonspecific low back pain for <3 months, who were otherwise healthy. Each patient had EOS images taken in the flexed, erect and extended positions, in random order, as well as magnetic resonance imaging to assess for disk degeneration. Angular and disk height measurements were performed and compared in all three postures using paired t-tests. Changes in disk height relative to the erect posture were caclulated to determine the alignment-specific load-bearing area of each FSU.

resultsEighty-three patients (415 lumbar intervertebral disks) were studied. Significant alignment changes were found between all three postures at L1/2, and only between erect and flexion at the other FSUs. Disk height measurements showed that the neutral axis of the spine, marked by zones where disk heights did not change, varied between postures and was level specific. The load-bearing areas were also found to be more anterior in flexion and more posterior in extension, with the erect spine resembling the extended spine to a greater extent.

conclusionsLoad-bearing areas of the lumbar spine are sagittal alignment-specific and level-specific. This may imply that, depending on the surgical realignment strategy, attention should be paid not just to placing an intervertebral cage "as anterior as possible" for generating lordosis, but also on optimizing load-bearing in the lumbar spine.

Indexed as

Cage placementFunctional spinal unitInterbody fusionLoad-bearingLumbar spine

Identifiers

PMID32160727
PMCPMC7904478
OpenAlexW3012051365

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.