Influence of age, body mass index and waist-hip ratio on the human spine; a radiographic study of adult male subjects in Port Harcourt-Nigeria

The study determined the Lumbosacral angle (LSA) of male subjects and evaluated its relationship to age, BMI and Waist -Hip ratio. Lateral radiographs of one hundred and forty-two informed healthy male volunteers between the age of 18-60 were studied using Ferguson’s method, and analyzed with respect to age, waist hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI).. The result showed the average value for Lumbosacral angle was 34.060 ± 0.560, the body weight was 70.34 ± 1.02Kg, and BMI was 24. 64 ± 0.38Kgm-2. Angle values were observed to increase with age up to 32years, followed by a sinusoidal increase and decrease pattern thereafter. Significant correlations were observed between LSA and Body weight as well as between LSA and BMI (p<0.05). The Lumbosacral angle of males in Port-Harcourt, South South Nigeria is within the range of literature derived measurement values world-wide, but lower than the average reported from previous studies on other Nigerian populations.

Evaluation of the Response of Odontogenic Keratocysts to Tube Decompression: A Clinical and Radiographic Study

Background and Objectives: Keratocyst is the most aggressive entity of odontogenic cysts with a high tendency to recure after enucleation. This study was conducted to assess the effect of decompression in inducing cyst shrinkage before enucleation. Materials and Methods: A prospective non-randomized study was conducted on 11 patients with odontogenic keratocyst the department of maxillofacial surgery, university-affiliated teaching hospital, between February 2016 to March 2021. There were 8 males and 3 females, with a mean age of 57 years. Tube decompression was conducted as a preliminary treatment, before enucleation. The size of the cyst was measured on orthopantomograph, before, during, and after decompression. The percentage of reduction was calculated, as well as, the correlation of cyst regression with the initial size of the lesion and age of the patient. Results: The mean duration time of decompression was 208 days (152-316). The pre- and post-decompression size of the cysts was 14.51 cm2 (5.63 cm2 -32.37 cm2) and 6.69 cm2 (1.76 cm2-14.81 cm2), respectively. The total and monthly percentage of reduction in the size of the cysts was 54.39% (37.29%-76.37%) and 7.84% (4.45%-11.27%), respectively. The initial size of the lesion has no significant correlation with the percentage of reduction, whereas the age of the patients showed a significant negative correlation with the percentage of reduction. Conclusion: Decompression is a well-tolerated conservative treatment, which leads to marked reduction in cyst dimensions. It induces shrinkage of the cyst away from anatomical structures, to reduce the morbidity associated with subsequent surgical treatment.

Role of Supine and Standing Radiography in Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Compression Fractures"

Objective: To confirm the benefits of vertebroplasty (VP) in selected patients with acute vertebral compression fracture (VCF) and analyze whether the study of a weight dynamic plain lateral radiograph would help in making decisions to perform VP. Using retrospective analysis, we aimed to determine the radiological characteristics of patients benefiting from VP.Methods: Data were collected from 54 patients (age, 56-97 years) diagnosed with osteoporosis and compression fractures between December 2013 and January 2018. Each patient was hospitalized with ≥2 weeks of absolute bed rest (ABR) and treated for osteoporosis. Plain lateral supine radiography of the fractured spine was performed prior to diagnosis, and both supine and standing spinal radiographs were taken 1 and 2 weeks after ABR. Patients were categorized into the VP and non-VP groups 2 weeks after ABR.Results: Although patients with worse pain and functional progress were selected to undergo VP, patients in the VP group presented better outcomes in the fourth week of evaluation than those in the non-VP group. In a retrospective analysis of the radiographic study, changes in the compression rate between supine and standing (weight-bearing) X-rays (ΔCR), showed a statistically significant correlation with the patient’s outcome in the second week.Conclusion: VP was found to be an effective management option for patients with VCF. A weightbearing radiographic study of VCFs provided valuable information on patient selection for VP. Therefore, patient selection based on subjective surveys and radiological studies to determine the benefits of VP could be a beneficial management strategy.