• Moon-Soo Han, Jong-Hwan Hong, Ji-Ho Jung, and Jung-Kil Lee.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Chonnam National University Medical School & Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Gwangju, Korea.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Jun 1; 186: e713e720e713-e720.

ObjectiveSeveral studies have investigated the mechanical behavior of the thoracolumbar spine. However, finding an accurate reference for the normal functional local alignment and segmental motion (SM) at the thoracolumbar junction (TLJ) is challenging. Therefore, this study aimed to assess age- and sex-related changes and differences in local alignment and SM at the TLJ.MethodsThe study recruited healthy subjects aged 20 to 79 without complaints of back pain. Healthy subjects (60 males and 60 females) with appropriate imaging results were enrolled in the study. The subjects were divided into age groups (20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years); each group included 10 subjects of each sex.ResultsThe SM at the TLJ was small but noticeable, and the motion gradually increased toward the lower level of the TLJ, closer to the lumbar region. No significant differences were observed between male and female subjects in any SM measurements at the TLJ. The SM at the TLJ gradually decreased with age, while local kyphosis of TLJ progressed. The results also showed that the thoracolumbar slope value did not change with age and remained at a mean of -12.8 ± 7.2° (P = 0.893).ConclusionsThis study's results provide valuable guidance for appropriate surgical planning and rehabilitation of patients with spinal diseases or trauma. Furthermore, the results can be the basis for categorizing accurate criteria to evaluate the degree of disability after treatment.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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