The period prevalence of congenital thoracic and lumbar spine anomalies and the association between the literature reported clinical features of these anomalies with the subject's presenting clinical features

Abstract

Background: Various congenital spinal anomalies are common findings in the general population. Their clinical significance is controversial with no definitive association been made between any specific congenital spinal anomaly to any clinical features.

Project Design: This research study was designed in the form of a quantitative, non-experimental, empirical clinical survey.

Method: Data was obtained from thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs contained in the Chiropractic Day Clinic at the Durban University of Technology from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2005 and from the corresponding patient files. Through the research procedure, 519 thoracic and lumbar spine radiographs were located in the confines of the Chiropractic Day Clinic. Due to the exclusion criteria of a past or present history of trauma to the thoracic or lumbar spine areas, 147 radiographs were excluded.

Objectives 1.To determine the period prevalence (1 January 1997 – 31 December 2005) of congenital thoracic and lumbar spine anomalies. 2.To determine if there is any association between the presenting clinical features and the congenital thoracic and lumbar spine anomalies in general. 3.To determine if there is any association between the presenting clinical features and individual congenital thoracic and lumbar spine anomalies. 4.To compare subjects presenting clinical features with reported clinical features from literature.