Cervical lordosis in asymptomatic individuals: a meta-analysis

Abstract

BackgroundCervical lordosis has important clinical and surgical implications. Cervical spine curvature is reported with considerable variability in individual studies. The aim of this study was to examine the existence and extent of cervical lordosis in asymptomatic individuals and to evaluate its relationship with age and gender.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted in several electronic databases. Study selection was based on pre-determined eligibility criteria. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate the proportion of asymptomatic individuals with lordosis and the effect size of cervical lordotic curvature in these individuals which followed metaregression analysis to examine the factors affecting cervical lordosis. Data from 21 studies (15,364 asymptomatic individuals, age 42.30 years [95% confidence interval 36.42, 48.18], 54.2% males) were used in the present study.ResultsIn this population, 63.99% [95% confidence interval 44.94, 83.03] individuals possessed lordotic curvature. Degree of lordotic curvature differed by method of measurement; 12.71° [6.59, 18.84] with Cobb C2–C7 method and 18.55° [14.48, 22.63] with posterior tangent method. Lordotic curvature was not significantly different between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals but was significantly higher in males in comparison with females. Age was not significantly associated with lordotic cervical curvature.ConclusionMajority of the asymptomatic individuals possesses lordotic cervical curvature which is higher in males than in females but have no relationship with age or symptoms.

Incidence and predictors of kyphotic deformity following resection of cervical intradural tumors in adults: a population-based cohort study

“…To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest study of its kind and contributes new findings that are important for patient management and future study design. The mean preoperative C2-C7 Cobb angle was 14°lordosis, which is considered normal according to a recent metanalysis of cervical lordosis in asymptomatic individuals [15]. During a mean follow-up time of 4.4 years, two (2.4%) patients required a delayed posterior fixation.…”

“…We, and many others [11], used the C2-C7 Cobb angle as we believe it to be a reliable quantification of overall global cervical alignment that does not overlook distal junctional kyphosis [25]. However, other measurements of cervical sagittal malalignment exist, for example T1 slope, sagittal vertical axis, chin-brow vertical angle, and Cobb angle with the surgical area as end points [11,15,26]. Moreover, all measurements were performed on MRI obtained in a supine position, which may not be sensitive enough to visualize non-rigid kyphosis.…”

Predicting the loss of correction after isolated anterior stabilization in the surgical treatment of subaxial cervical dislocations

“…По данным Hardacker et al [39], нормальный шейный лордоз С 1 -С 7 составляет 40,0° ± 9,7°, при этом субаксиальный шейный отдел обеспечивает около 15 % величины шейного лордоза. По данным метаанализа Guo et al [40], среднее значение лордоза С 2 -С 7 у асимптомных волонтеров -около 13°, у мужчин значение лордоза больше. По материалам других исследований [38,41], показатели сагиттального баланса шейного отдела позвоночника строго коррелируют с показателями функциональной дееспособности пациентов, оцененной по разным шкалам.…”

Differences of Spinal Curvature, Thoracic Mobility, and Respiratory Strength Between Chronic Neck Pain Patients and People Without Cervical Pain

“…Radiographic cervical curvature Cervical curvature was assessed according to the Cobb angle C2-7 (angle between the horizontal line of the C2 lower endplate and the horizontal line of the C7 lower endplate) in the radiographic lateral view [13]. The subject was instructed to sit on a chair without a backrest and to look ahead as comfortably as possible.…”