A comparative study of morphometric measurement methods used in determining lumbal lordosis degree; radiological evaluation

This study was conducted to comparatively examine the morphometric measurement methods used in the evaluation of lumbar lordosis and to test the reliability of the measurement methods. Radiographs of 175 (100 female, 75 male) adults' individuals whose lateral lumbar radiographs were taken at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Training and Research Hospital between March 2020 and March 2021 were included in the study. Hereby of the statistical analysis; No significant correlation was observed between gender and age with measurement values obtained and lumbar lordosis (p>0,05). A very strong relative correlation was observed between Risser Ferguson angle and Cobb L1-S1 angle, Cobb L1-L5 angle, Posterior Tangent angle and LCL angle (p<0,01); A moderate relative correlation was observed between the Risser Ferguson angle and the TRALL angle (p<0,05). A low relative correlation was observed between Segmental Distance Measurement and Proportioning value (mm) and Risser Ferguson angle, Cobb L1-S1 angle, Cobb L1-L5 angle, Posterior Tangent angle, TRALL angle and LCL angle (p<0,05). The binary difference tests between the lordosis level and the measurement values shows significance (p<0,05). The safe usability of the Risser Ferguson method in the measurement of lumbar lordosis was demonstrated as a result of the tests. We find and recommend the LCL and Risser Ferguson techniques, which based to the center of vertebra, more reliable because they are not affected by the vertebral endplate architecture and the measurement time is short. We consider that our results will contribute and benefit the literature in the understanding of anatomy, radiology and lumbar lordosis.