Biomechanical normality model of the human lumbar spine (Lumbosacral region)

Abstract

[EN]The Lumbo-Sacral Spine is a structure of the spine that supports one of the greatest burdens of the human body. It constitutes a biomechanical unit and is formed by 5 lumbar vertebrae distributed in such a way that each supports a weight. The Lumbo-Sacral Spine distributes a load and acts as a shock absorber for the spine thanks to its flexibility. The knowledge of the morphology of this spinal structure and its articulation with the first sacral vertebra is fundamental to determine the biomechanical behavior of the entire spinal column. Furthermore, it allows the study of its type of support, its stability and degree of cushioning, its mobility and, in short, all its cinematic and dynamic characteristics. The present work presents a morphological study of the lumbar spine and the lumbosacral articulation of 108 non-pathological adult individuals and without regular and demanding physical or sportive physical activity. The sample consists of simple x-rays of the sagittal plane. The objective proposed in the present work is to obtain a normal lumbosacral column model of a significant population studied as a control group. Obtaining the proposed model allows knowledge and characterization of the distribution of the non-pathological population and its deviations from the most frequent values. The typing of the lumbar morphology of a control group makes it possible to have a decision tool at the population level to establish a preventive or healthy policy based on the analysis of the risks and priority criteria for action. The incidence of this model in the prevention of pathologies of the lumbar spine has a direct incidence with the labor, personal and social cost that this type of pathologies supposes.