Development and Validation of a Method to Measure Lumbosacral Motion Using Ultrasound Imaging

The study aim was to validate an ultrasound imaging technique to measure sagittal plane lumbosacral motion. Direct and indirect measures of lumbosacral angle change were developed and validated. Lumbosacral angle was estimated by the angle between lines through two landmarks on the sacrum and lowest lumbar vertebrae. Distance measure was made between the sacrum and lumbar vertebrae, and angle was estimated after distance was calibrated to angle. This method was tested in an in vitro spine and an in vivo porcine spine and validated to video and fluoroscopy measures, respectively. R2, regression coefficients and mean absolute differences between ultrasound measures and validation measures were, respectively: 0.77, 0.982, 0.67° (in vitro, angle); 0.97, 0.992, 0.82° (in vitro, distance); 0.94, 0.995, 2.1° (in vivo, angle); and 0.95, 0.997, 1.7° (in vivo, distance). Lumbosacral motion can be accurately measured with ultrasound. This provides a basis to develop measurements for use in humans.