ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is therefore to compare Cobb angles, Jackson stress lines and Harrison tangents methods to measure the cervical lordosis angle using lateral cervical X-ray graphics and collect nominative values.

We evaluated 76 patients' lateral cervical X-ray graphics between the ages of 18 to 60 years retrospectively. Exclusion criteria was any pathology that seen on graphics. Cervical X-ray graphics were taken as standing lateral neutral positioned. Cervical lordosis measured with Cobb, Jackson and Harrison techniques on pacs system.

47 patients (61.8 %) were female, and 29 patients (38.2 %) were males. Mean age was 43.83 ± 15.9 years. We found mean values of C_0-2, C_2-7, Jackson stress lines and Harrison tangents as 30,72° ± 7,76°, 18,37° ± 9,44°, 18,92° ± 10,98° and 22,91° ± 8,96°. Cobb C0-C2 (p=0.307), Jackson (p=0.106), and Harrison (p=0.688) measurements were similar between males and females. But Cobb C_2-7 was significantly different between genders (p=0.017), and males had significantly higher Cobb C_2-7 values. The comparisons of methods revealed that Cobb C_0-2 had highest values, and Cobb C_2-7 and Jackson was lower than Harrison (Cobb C_0-2>Harrison>Cobb C_2-7~Jackson) (p<0.001).

Harrison tangent technique is difficult to measure but we thought its results are better to show the best values because tangents also could measure the internal curve. All these techniques must be understood well with the biomechanics features so that surgeons could choose which technique would be better to use for the management of deformities.