Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40659962›Full record

Observational studyEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society2025

Normative values of the sagittal lumbopelvic alignment in children during the first decade of life : A retrospective observational study from a German paediatric orthopaedic hospital.

Bernhard Heimkes, Nina Berger, Vincent Frimberger, Bronek Boszczyk, Miguel Pishnamaz, Heide Delbrück

Abstract readObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Standing whole-spine radiographic sagittal alignment response to backpack load in schoolchildren.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Bernhard HeimkesKlinikum Dritter Orden München-Nymphenburg, Paediatric Orthopaedic and Neuroorthopaedic Section, Munich, Germany. Bernhard.Heimkes@dritter-orden.de.
Nina BergerKlinikum Dritter Orden München-Nymphenburg, Paediatric Orthopaedic and Neuroorthopaedic Section, Munich, Germany.
Vincent FrimbergerKlinikum Dritter Orden München-Nymphenburg, Paediatric Orthopaedic and Neuroorthopaedic Section, Munich, Germany.
Bronek BoszczykKind im Zentrum Chiemgau, Spine Surgery Department, Aschau i. Chiemgau, Germany.
Miguel PishnamazDepartment of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
Heide DelbrückDepartment of Orthopaedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany. hdelbrueck@ukaachen.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeNormal values for lumbopelvic sagittal alignment in prepubertal non-Asian children have rarely been reported. However, they are becoming increasingly important for treating of hip and spinal disorders in this age group.

methodsStanding lateral radiographs of the lumbar spine and pelvis of children aged 3-10 years from 2016 to 2024 from a German paediatric orthopaedic hospital with defined inclusion criteria were evaluated in terms of pelvic incidence (PI), lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS). The results were compared with those of comparable studies. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, as well as linear correlation and regression analyses, were performed according to the characteristics of the variables.

resultsX-rays of 54 children aged 7.8 ± 1.9 years (30 boys, 24 girls, 44 children aged 7-10 years) were included. The mean [± standard deviation (SD)] of LL, PI, PT, and SS were 47.7°±11.2°, 35.8°±7.1°, 5.6°±7.1°, and 30.2°±8.3°, respectively. There were no significant differences between the genders and no age dependencies in our sample. The following significant correlations were observed: PI vs. LL (r = 0.393), PI vs. SS (r = 0.580), PI vs. PT (r = 0.307), SS vs. LL (r = 0.755), SS vs. PT (r=-0.586), and LL vs. PT (r=-0.534). The linear regression analysis yields the following equations: LL = 0.6 PI + 26.35 (R

conclusionThis study adds normal values for lumbopelvic alignment parameters in children aged 3-10 years. Differences and similarities in the parameters and their possible influencing variables between the studies published to date call for further studies, especially with the most likely influencing variables of bone age, percentile curves, body composition, and X-ray technique.

Indexed as

Lumbar VertebraePelvic BonesPelvisChildChild, PreschoolFemaleGermanyHospitals, PediatricHumansLordosisMaleRadiographyReference ValuesRetrospective StudiesChildrenLumbopelvic alignmentPelvic incidenceSagittal alignmentSagittal balanceSpine

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.