Lumbar offset distance: A simplified metric for evaluation of the lumbar spine alignment.

Background: A healthy lower back is essential for optimal spinal function and overall wellness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the gold standard in assessing lumbar spine disease. This article aims to evaluate the precision and efficacy of the lumbar offset distance (LOD) as a novel MRI parameter designed to determine the lumbar spine alignment. normally measured as we compared it to a new parameter based on length.

Materials and methods: Supine sagittal magnetic resonance images of 101 patients who underwent lumbar spine MRI scans were analyzed. We focused on L1-L5 lumbar lordosis angle (LLA) and LOD to assess lumbar spine alignment. Diagnostic cutoff values for LOD measurements were determined, and their diagnostic accuracies were evaluated.

Results: The normal LLA in our dataset was 23°-45°, and the normal LOD was 5-15 mm. Using linear regression, the range of 6-14 mm correlates to the LLA range of 20°-45°, which would define the standard lumbar offset as normal between 6 and 14 mm. Hence, lumbar hypolordosis was defined as <6 mm, and lumbar hyperlordosis was defined as more than 14 mm. Our study showed a good correlation between the LOD and LLA and is particularly useful in identifying cases of normal lumbar lordosis, hypolordosis, and hyperlordosis.

Conclusion: Linear measurements show good diagnostic accuracy of LOD in evaluating lumbar spinal alignment, including normal alignment, hypolordosis, and hyperlordosis.