Advertisement for orthosearch.org.uk
Orthopaedic Proceedings Logo

Receive monthly Table of Contents alerts from Orthopaedic Proceedings

Comprehensive article alerts can be set up and managed through your account settings

View my account settings

Visit Orthopaedic Proceedings at:

Loading...

Loading...

Full Access

Spine

DISCRIMINATION OF BIOMECHANICAL BACK PAIN PATIENT SUBGROUPS FROM CONTINUOUS INTER-VERTEBRAL MOTION DATA – A PROTOCOL

The Society for Back Pain Research (SBPR) Annual General Meeting: ‘Spotlight on sciatica’



Abstract

Background and purpose

Investigating inter-vertebral biomechanics in vivo using end-of-range imaging is difficult due to high intra subject variation, measurement errors and insufficient data. Quantitative fluoroscopy (QF) can reliably measure continuous motion but may suffer from contamination from uncontrolled loading and muscle contraction which compromises comparisons between studies and limits interpretation of results. This study presents the methods used to overcome these limitations.

Methods and results

Forty chronic, non-specific low back pain (CNSLPB) patients and 40 matched controls underwent QF using a passive recumbent protocol which standardised the rate and range of trunk rotation, thus reducing intra-subject variation and excluding loading and muscle contraction factors. Left, right, flexion and extension were recorded from L2-5 and vertebral motion registered using image processing algorithms, Resultant continuous inter-vertebral rotation data were normalised to produce proportional contributions of each segment throughout the trunk bend

The expected continuous proportional contributions at each level and direction were determined by calculating reference intervals (mean +/− 2SD) from controls. Prevalence of patients exceeding these ranges was determined and the association with CNSLBP calculated using Chi-squared analysis.

Additionally the variance of the normalised data throughout the continuous motion for each direction was determined and summed to produce an combined number. This was used to measure the difference between patients and controls and entered into ROC curve analysis to investigate discrimination between patients and controls.

Conclusion

A methodology for assessment of the differences between the continuous in vivo spine kinematics of CNSLBP patients and healthy controls has been developed and will be presented.


Email:

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

This research was supported by the NIHR-CDRF scheme

This abstract has not previously been published as a whole or substantial part, nor has it previously been presented previously at a national meeting