The Use of T1 Sagittal Angle in Predicting Cervical Disc Degeneration

• Main Authors: Bong-Seok Yang, Su-Keon Lee, Kyung-Sub Song, Sang-Pil Yoon, Geun Jang, Chae-Chul Lee, Seong-Hwan Moon, Hwan-Mo Lee, Seung-Hwan Lee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Spine Society 2015-10-01
• Series: Asian Spine Journal
• Subjects: Intervertebral disc degeneration; Cervical spine; T1 slope; Magnetic resonance imaging
• Online Access: http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-9-757.pdf
• ISSN: 1976-1902; 1976-7846

Study DesignRetrospective evaluation.PurposeTo analyze the effect of T1 slope on degree of degeneration in patients with cervical disc degeneration.Overview of LiteratureThe T1 slope is well known parameter that may be very useful in evaluating sagittal balance. There are no reports on the analysis of the relationship between T1 slope and cervical disc degeneration. We hypothesized that T1 slope has an effect on the degree of cervical degeneration.MethodsSixty patients who had cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in our orthopedic clinic were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to T1 slope. Radiologic parameters obtained from radiography and cervical spine MRI were compared between low T1 slope group (≤25) and high T1 slope group (>25).ResultsAmong low T1 slope group, average degeneration grade of each cervical segment was 2.65 in C2-3, 2.50 in C3-4, 2.62 in C4-5, 3.23 in C5-6, and 2.81 in C6-7. And that of high T1 group was 2.35 in C2-3, 2.32 in C3-4, 2.59 in C4-5, 2.79 in C5-6, and 2.32 in C6-7. Grade of degeneration of low T1 group was significantly higher, as compared with high T1 group in C5-6 (p=0.028) and C6-7 (p=0.009). Percentage of high grade degeneration of more than grand III was 65.4% in low T1 group and 32.4% in high T1 group (p=0.018). Risk of high grade degeneration of C6-7 was significantly higher in low T1 group (odds ratio, 5.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.665-19.057; p=0.005).ConclusionsPatients with low T1 slope had higher grade of degeneration regardless of age and gender. Low T1 slope is a potential risk factor of cervical spondylosis especially in the C6-7 cervical segment.