Lumbar Flatback

Lumbar lordosis is the curve in the low back when the body is viewed from the side and is usually 40-50 degrees. This lumbar lordosis allows one to stand up straight. If there is not enough lordosis, then one leans forward when walking. This lack of lumbar lordosis is called lumbar flatback. Lumbar flatback or loss of lordosis may occur as one ages and loses height of the lumbar discs. Another common cause of loss of lumbar lordosis is lumbar fusion surgery in which the spine is fused flat or without preservation of the normal lumbar lordosis.

Lumbar Flatback Diagnosis

Lumbar flatback is diagnosed by watching a person walk. The person leans forward and looks like a skier leaning forward after launching from a ski jump. Lumbar flatback may be confirmed by obtaining a standing full-length x-ray of the spine and measuring the lumbar lordosis. If less than 40 degrees, the patient has lumbar flatback. Not all persons with lordosis less than 40 degrees lean forward. It is necessary to compare the lumbar lordosis to the tilt of the pelvis which is termed pelvic incidence. For a person to walk upright it is necessary for the lumbar lordosis to equal the pelvic incidence.

Lumbar Flatback Treatment

Treatment of lumbar flatback depends upon how far a person is leaning forward. If minimal, then no treatment is necessary other than observation of the person to make sure the leaning doesn’t worsen. However, if significant then a person may have difficulty walking and experience low back pain. In this instance, surgery may be necessary to re-align the spine. This is done by performing a spinal osteotomy which removes a portion of the spine allowing restoration of normal lordosis. The correction is held in place with metal screws and rods after which bone graft is placed on the spine to fuse or weld it in the corrected positioned.