Lordosis Flashcards
Define lordosis.
An abnormal extension deformity of the spine in which the concavity in the curvature of the lumbar and cervical spine as viewed from the side is increased.
As part of your physical exam, you perform a screening osteopathic structural evaluation which includes assessment of what?
Symmetry/asymmetry
Mid-gravity lines
Spinal curve
Normal lumbar or cervical curvature is referred to as what as opposed to what?
lordotic - lordosis
What are some more colloquial names for lordosis?
Hollow/saddle/sway back
What types of somatic dysfunction can cause increased lordosis?
Cervical extended segments Thoracic flexed segments Lumbar extended segments Anterior innominate rotation Sacral flexed dysfunctions - bilaterally flexed sacrum, unilaterally flexed sacrum, anterior sacral torsion
Why would you do an erect, standing radiographic analysis?
For both quantification of the curve and determination of etiology.
What would you measure with a standing radiographic analysis?
Lateral mid-gravity line: extended downward from the mid-body of L3; should fall at the sacral promontory.
What is Fergusen’s Angle?
Angle of sacral promontory and horizontal line. Normal is 30-40 degrees.
What is Mitchell’s Angle?
Outside angle between spine and sacrum. Normal is 125-145 degrees.
What is the lumbosacral lordotic angle?
Cobb Angle from superior endplate of S1 to superior endplate of L2. Normal is 40-60 degrees.
What is the lumbo-lumbar lordotic angle?
Cobb Angle from superior endplate of L2 to the inferior endplate of L5. Normal is 35-55 degrees.
What is Jungmann’s Pelvic Index?
Ratio of measurements representing the position of the sacrum relative to the innominates (line across top of pubic symphysis/line through sacral promontory). Ratio is age dependent: 0.55 at 20 years; 0.65 at 50 years. Chronic low back pain is greater than 0.65-0.75. With age, the pelvis tends to rock back and the sacrum tends to rock forward.
What are some consequences of increased lumbar lordosis?
Increased weight-bearing on the facets and facet joint pain
Narrowing of the intervertebral foramina with neural entrapment
Approximation of the spinous processes (kissing spines - Baastrup Syndrome)
Visceroptosis
Lumbar vertebral wedging (Wolff’s Law)
Fixed flexion of sacrum
Anterior rotation of the pelvis on the hip joints
Increased anterior concavity of the sacrum
What is visceroptosis?
Descent of viscera from their normal position. Can result in viscera ischemia syndrome.
What are the signs and symptoms of visceral ischemia syndrome?
Sign - diarrhea
Symptoms - postprandial (post-eating) pain, anorexia (from fear of eating), weight loss
What are physical findings of visceral ischemia syndrome?
Occasionally, occult fecal blood
Short systolic bruit in the epigastrium or umbilical region
What causes symptoms of visceral ischemia syndrome?
Celiac artery compression
What are the etiologies of visceral ischemia syndrome?
Increased lumbar lordosis Atherosclerosis Fibromuscular hyperplasia Neoplasia Embolism Polyarteritis nodosa Thromgoangiitis obliterans Carcinoid
What is an etiology of increased lumbar lordosis?
Poor posture - weakness of the recuts abdominus & abdominal oblique muscles and/or shortening of the psoas muscles (prolonged sitting).
What congenital anomaly can cause increased lumbar lordosis?
Failure of segmentation - do segmental motion testing to find this.