Assessment of Spino Pelvic Alignment in Patients with Cervical Radiculopathy

Abstract Background: Cervical radiculopathy is a relatively com-mon neurological disorder resulting from nerve root dysfunc-tion which is often due to mechanical compression. Much less attention has been given to the effect of cervical radicu-lopathy on spino-pelvic alignment. Aim of Study: To investigate the effect of cervical radic-ulopathy on spino-pelvic alignment. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out over one hundred (100) subjects of both sexes with age ranged from 30-50 years, the subjects were assigned in to two equal groups: Group (I): The study group (fifty subjects with unilateral, lower cervical radiculopathy (c3-c7) which is more than six months), Group (II): The control group (fifty normal matched subjects. Rasterstereog-raphy (Formetric 2), was used to measure the effect of cervical radiculopathy on thoracic kyphosis and lateral spinal deviation. Results: The results revealed a significant increase of the mean values of the thoracic kyphosis and lateral spinal devi-ation in the study group (GI) in comparison to the control group (GII) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Cervical radiculopathy has a significant effect on spino-pelvic alignment. The thoracic kyphosis and the lateral spinal deviation have been increased in patients with cervical radiculopathy and this should be taken in consideration in the rehabilitation of patients with cervical radiculopathy.