Sex-based differences in clinical and radiological presentation of patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background To evaluate the sex-based differences in clinical and radiological presentation of patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) and to explore whether the difference is helpful in investigating the etiology and progression of DLS. Method A retrospective review of 199 patients (41 males, 158 females) with DLS was included. Patient demographics including age, gender, bone mineral density were collected. Back and leg pain was assessed by visual analog scale, and general physical condition was assessed by Oswestry Disability Index. Cobb’s angle was measured, and direction of scoliosis, position of the superior, inferior and apex vertebrae, number of vertebrae included in the scoliosis, rotation of apex vertebrae (Nash-Mo index), translation of apex vertebrae were recorded. Sagittal longitudinal axis, thoracolumbar kyphosis, lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence angle (PI), sacral slope, apex of lumbar lordosis and coronal balance distance were measured by whole spine lateral radiographs, and type of coronal imbalance was evaluated in all patients. Fat infiltration rate (FIR) of the paraspinal muscles at the vertebral apex was measured by MRI. Result Compared to female patients, male patients showed more back and leg pain on clinical presentation and smaller Cobb angle, less parietal rotation, larger LL, smaller PI-LL and lower paravertebral muscle FIR on radiologic features. Conclusion Gender differences do exist in DLS patients with regard to clinical and radiological presentation, low back pain was more pronounced in male patients, and scoliosis was more severe in female patients based on this cross-sectional study