Three-dimensional movements of the lumbar spine facet joints and segmental movements: in vivo examinations of normal subjects with a new non-invasive method

Introduction Examination with CT and image registration is a new technique that we have previously used to assess 3D segmental motions in the lumbar spine in a phantom. Current multi-slice computed tomography (CT) offers highly accurate spatial volume resolution without significant distortion and modern CT scanners makes it possible to reduce the radiation dose to the patients. Our aim was to assess segmental movement in the lumbar spine with the aforementioned method in healthy subjects and also to determine rotation accuracy on phantom vertebrae. Material and method The subjects were examined in flexion–extension using low dose CT. Eleven healthy, asymptomatic subjects participated in the current study. The subjects were placed on a custom made jig which could provoke the lumbar spine into flexion or extension. CT examination in flexion and extension was performed. The image analysis was performed using a 3D volume fusion tool, registering one of the vertebrae, and then measuring Euler angles and distances in the registered volumes. Results The mean 3D facet joint translation at L4–L5 was in the right facet joint 6.1 mm (3.1–8.3), left facet joint 6.9 mm (4.9–9.9), at L5–S1: right facet joint 4.5 mm (1.4–6.9), and for the left facet joint 4.8 mm (2.0–7.7). In subjects the mean angles at the L4–L5 level were: in the sagittal plane 14.3°, coronal plane 0.9° (−0.6 to 2.8), and in the transverse plane 0.6° (−0.4 to 1.5), in the L5–S1 level the rotation was in sagittal plane 10.2° (2.4–16.1), coronal plane 0° (−1.2 to 1.2), and in the transverse plane 0.2° (−0.7 to 0.3). Repeated analysis for 3D facet joint movement was on average 5 mm with a standard error of mean of 0.6 mm and repeatability of 1.8 mm (CI 95%). For segmental rotation in the sagittal plane the mean rotation was 11.5° and standard error of mean 1°. The repeatability for rotation was 2.8° (CI 95%). The accuracy for rotation in the phantom was in the sagittal plane 0.7°, coronal plane 1°, and 0.7 in the transverse plane. Conclusion This method to assess movement in the lumbar spine is a truly 3D method with a high precision giving both visual and numerical output. We believe that this method for measuring spine movement is useful both in research and in clinical settings.