Significance of lumbosacral list and low-back pain. A controlled radiographic study.

Abstract

A prospective study of 43 patients with low-back pain was performed to determine if there exists 1) a significant correlation between lumbosacral list and low-back pain, 2) a significant difference between measured list in patients pretreatment and posttreatment, and/or 3) a significant difference in results obtained using two different measuring techniques. All patients had standing antero-posterior radiographs. The radiographs were analyzed for lumbosacral list using two measurement methods. The results indicated that there was no significant correlation between lumbosacral list and low-back pain and no significant change in measured list in individuals pretreatment and posttreatment. There was a significant difference between the two methods described above. The intercristal line (ICL) method proved most precise.