Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approach
Aims: The development of lumbar lordosis has been traditionally examined using angular measurements of the spine to reflect its shape. While studies agree regarding the increase in the angles during growth, the growth rate is understudied, and sexual dimorphism is debated. In this study, we used a...
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The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Bone & Joint Research |
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| Online Access: | https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2046-3758.141.BJR-2024-0081.R1 |
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| author | Ruth Pelleg-Kallevag Sarah Borgel Einat Kedar Nathan Peled Hila May |
| author_facet | Ruth Pelleg-Kallevag Sarah Borgel Einat Kedar Nathan Peled Hila May |
| author_sort | Ruth Pelleg-Kallevag |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aims: The development of lumbar lordosis has been traditionally examined using angular measurements of the spine to reflect its shape. While studies agree regarding the increase in the angles during growth, the growth rate is understudied, and sexual dimorphism is debated. In this study, we used a novel method to estimate the shape of the lumbar curve (LC) using the landmark-based geometric morphometric method to explore changes in LC during growth, examine the effect of size and sex on LC shape, and examine the associations between angular measurements and shape. Methods: The study population included 258 children aged between 0 and 20 years (divided into five age groups) who underwent a CT scan between the years 2009 and 2019. The landmark-based geometric morphometric method was used to capture the LC shape in a sagittal view. Additionally, the lordosis was measured via Cobb and sacral slope angles. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were carried out to examine differences in shape between males and females and between the age groups. Results: The overall shape of the LC overlapped between males and females in most age groups, except for the nine- to 12-year age group. However, size did not affect LC shape. LC shape changed significantly during growth from straight to curved, reaching its mature shape earlier in females. This corresponded with the results obtained by the lordosis and sacral slope angles. A significant positive correlation was found between the LC shape and angles, although the angles demonstrated poor distinction between age groups, as opposed to the LC shape. Conclusion: New insights into LC shape development were achieved using the geometrical morphometric method. The LC shape was sex-independent in most age groups. However, the LC reached its mature shape earlier in females than males. The method and data of this study are beneficial for future studies examining aetiological factors for spinal pathologies and maldevelopment. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2025;14(1):58–68. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a97c06c297ec4c2baf912637e8be4a05 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2046-3758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bone & Joint Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-a97c06c297ec4c2baf912637e8be4a052025-01-28T06:54:24ZengThe British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint SurgeryBone & Joint Research2046-37582025-01-01141586810.1302/2046-3758.141.BJR-2024-0081.R1Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approachRuth Pelleg-Kallevag0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2511-558XSarah Borgel1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0498-0947Einat Kedar2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0091-7244Nathan Peled3Hila May4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5256-2369Department of Physical Therapy, Zefat Academic College, Zefat, IsraelDepartment of Anatomy and Anthropology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelDepartment of Anatomy and Anthropology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelDepartment of Radiology, Elisha Hospital, Haifa, IsraelDepartment of Anatomy and Anthropology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, IsraelAims: The development of lumbar lordosis has been traditionally examined using angular measurements of the spine to reflect its shape. While studies agree regarding the increase in the angles during growth, the growth rate is understudied, and sexual dimorphism is debated. In this study, we used a novel method to estimate the shape of the lumbar curve (LC) using the landmark-based geometric morphometric method to explore changes in LC during growth, examine the effect of size and sex on LC shape, and examine the associations between angular measurements and shape. Methods: The study population included 258 children aged between 0 and 20 years (divided into five age groups) who underwent a CT scan between the years 2009 and 2019. The landmark-based geometric morphometric method was used to capture the LC shape in a sagittal view. Additionally, the lordosis was measured via Cobb and sacral slope angles. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were carried out to examine differences in shape between males and females and between the age groups. Results: The overall shape of the LC overlapped between males and females in most age groups, except for the nine- to 12-year age group. However, size did not affect LC shape. LC shape changed significantly during growth from straight to curved, reaching its mature shape earlier in females. This corresponded with the results obtained by the lordosis and sacral slope angles. A significant positive correlation was found between the LC shape and angles, although the angles demonstrated poor distinction between age groups, as opposed to the LC shape. Conclusion: New insights into LC shape development were achieved using the geometrical morphometric method. The LC shape was sex-independent in most age groups. However, the LC reached its mature shape earlier in females than males. The method and data of this study are beneficial for future studies examining aetiological factors for spinal pathologies and maldevelopment. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2025;14(1):58–68.https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2046-3758.141.BJR-2024-0081.R1lumbar-curve shapedevelopmentlumbar lordosissexual dimorphismlumbar curvespinesacral slopect scanslordosislumbar spinevariancekruskal-wallis testsbonferroni correction |
| spellingShingle | Ruth Pelleg-Kallevag Sarah Borgel Einat Kedar Nathan Peled Hila May Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approach Bone & Joint Research lumbar-curve shape development lumbar lordosis sexual dimorphism lumbar curve spine sacral slope ct scans lordosis lumbar spine variance kruskal-wallis tests bonferroni correction |
| title | Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approach |
| title_full | Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approach |
| title_fullStr | Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approach |
| title_short | Changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth: a geometric morphometric approach |
| title_sort | changes in the shape of the lumbar curve during growth a geometric morphometric approach |
| topic | lumbar-curve shape development lumbar lordosis sexual dimorphism lumbar curve spine sacral slope ct scans lordosis lumbar spine variance kruskal-wallis tests bonferroni correction |
| url | https://online.boneandjoint.org.uk/doi/epdf/10.1302/2046-3758.141.BJR-2024-0081.R1 |
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