Kinematic evaluation of cervical sagittal balance and thoracic inlet alignment in degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging

Background Context

T1 slope is a novel thoracic parameter used to assess cervical spine sagittal balance. Thoracic index (TI) parameters including T1 slope and cervical sagittal alignment parameters may play an important role in degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis (DCS). Current literature regarding the relationship between TI and cervical sagittal alignment parameters in patients with DCS is limited.

Purpose

(1) To evaluate the T1 slope, cervical sagittal alignment, and thoracic inlet parameter in patients with DCS using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging (kMRI), and (2) to find a correlation between the T1 slope, TI, and other cervical sagittal parameters in patients with DCS.

Design/Setting

Retrospective kMRI study, Level III.

Patient Sample

Fifty-two patients with DCS from 1,128 patients from a cervical kMRI database.

Outcome Measures

T1 slope, C2–C7 angle, sagittal vertical axis C2–C7 (SVA C2–C7), cranial tilt, cervical tilt, neck tilt, and thoracic inlet angle (TIA).

Methods

Cervical spine kMRIs of 52 patients with DCS (mean age 51.7±standard deviation) were analyzed in neutral, flexion, and extension positions. Patients with DCS were divided into two groups: anterolisthesis (N=33) and retrolisthesis (N=19). Each listhesis group was subclassified into grade 1 (slip 2–3?mm) and grade 2 (slip>3?mm).

Results

Grade 2 retrolisthesis had the largest T1 slope followed by grade 1 retrolisthesis, grade 2 anterolisthesis, and grade 1 anterolisthesis. Significant differences were found between the anterolisthesis and the retrolisthesis groups in the neutral position (p=.025). The flexion position had the largest T1 slope and showed a significant difference with anterolisthesis in the neutral position (p=.041). Sagittal vertical axis C2–C7 showed strong correlation with cranial tilt in all DCS groups and all positions.

Conclusions

In our study, T1 slope was larger in grade 2 DCS, and the retrolisthesis group had larger T1 slope than the anterolisthesis group. Presence of larger T1 slope was significantly correlated with larger cervical lordosis curvature. Furthermore, cranial tilt was strongly correlated with SVA C2–C7.