General
- The sagittal profile changes with growth and ageing.
- At birth, the spine has a gentle C- shaped curve throughout its length.
- Normal cervical lordosis develops
- gains head control and begins crawling;
- Lumbar lordosis develop
- time of walking.
- Continued development in the sagittal profile throughout growth until the normal adult pattern is achieved.
- Sagittal profile is never fixed, and will continue to change as the spine ages, becoming more kyphotic with advancing years.
- Coronal balance
- Position the head and thoracic cage over the centre of the pelvis
- Spinal deformity in coronal plane: scoliosis
- Coronal plane spinal curvature of 10° or more
- Curves less than 10° are referred to as spinal asymmetry.
- Sagittal balance
- The centre of gravity falls between the sacrum and the femoral heads.
- Spinal deformities in sagittal plane: kyphosis
- Spine is a complex system:
- Rotation (in the axial plane) deformity can cause sagittal and coronal plane
- Spinal deformity is a three- dimensional problem.
- Patients may tilt the pelvis to compensate for spinal deformity. There is a limit to the amount of compensation that is possible. Rotating the pelvis forwards or backwards from the normal position compromises hip function. Therefore, when considering the normal spine, we must also consider the pelvis.
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