Changes in the sagittal spinal alignment of the elderly without vertebral fractures: a minimum 10-year longitudinal study

A decrease in the total lumbar lordosis and the sacral inclination angle occurred with age. Increasing age correlated with a more forward sagittal vertical axis, depending on a decrease in the total lumbar lordosis. The cause of loss of lumbar lordosis in the subjects without vertebral fracture was anterior wedging of the segmental discs. Posterior wedging of the thoracic and lumbar segmental discs then could occur, compensating for the loss of lumbar lordosis.