SagittalMeter

Sagittal balance parameter analyzis is a very important criteria for daily practice in lumbar spine pathology
Sagittalmeter app provides you an easy educative tool to perform the measurements requested to help you
The Sagittal Balance is an imperative factor to take into consideration for all practionners treating spine problems and particularly for surgeons during the pre-operative phase. The compensatory mechanisms of a sagittal unbalanced spine may prevent a successful surgery outcome.
The pelvis should be considered as the first vertebra representing the basement for the spine. The correlation between the alignment of the pelvis and the lumbar spine has been widely demonstrated and is important to determine the sagittal balance. To measure the parameters, a full standing x-ray (including femoral head and C7) is needed. (Antero-posterior and lateral X ray view). In peri-operative measurement the C arm view must be strictly localised on the targeted level.
3 angles are essential to determine the pelvic parameters:
PELVIC INCIDENCE (PI), PELVIC TILT (PT), SACRAL SLOPE (SS) : Sagittalmeter app allows you to make this measurement with 2 clics.
The value of the lumbar lordosis is an other important parameter:
The theoretical lordosis value of a normal asymptomatic person is different among asymptomatic population. All variations of lumbar lordosis have an influence on the orientation of the pelvis that tries to compensate or maintain the sagittal alignment. Sagittalmeter app allows you to make the measures and provides you all average theoretical values from a wide literature review.
The C7 Plumb Line and spino-sacral angle:
Normally the global sagittal alignment of the thoracolumbar spine is correct if a vertical line from C7 vertebra falls through the posterior corner of S1. The SPINO-SACRAL ANGLE (SSA) Is an angle between a line from the centre of C7 to the centre of the sacral endplate and the surface of the sacral endplate The SSA can be considered as a ‘global parameter’, giving at a glance a good indication of the sagital alignment. Sagittalmeter allows you to perform the measurements and to compare with the theoretical average value for an equivalent asymtomatic patient according to a wide literature review.

The Spine Curvature is variable in a normal population and varies with the degenerative process: What does it mean?

All compensatory mechanisms induce changes in the theoretical normal values Any surgical treatment option should aim at the re-establishment of an ‘economic’ posture. The knowledge of all normal values is very important to remember but is definitively not easy or impossible. The sagittalmeter app provides on a table the measurement of your particular patient and gives you the average theoretical normal values for an equivalent asymptomatic healthy patient.

How much correction I need to restore a good balance in daily practice?

Sagittalmeter app allows you to evaluate the FBI index value in few clics. The location of the correction is very often located in the lower lumbar area but could be adapted according to the thoracic kyphosis and the type of spine.