Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging

Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the index of the sacral vertebrae fusion period in children and adolescents to diagnose the lesion around the sacral spine accurately. Methods Patients aged 0–40 years who underwent computed tomography (CT), including the normal sacrum for screening...

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Main Authors: Kyohei Ishizuka, Satoshi Nozawa, Daichi Watanabe, Takuma Ishihara, Kazunari Yamada, Chizuo Iwai, Haruhiko Akiyama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08597-w
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author Kyohei Ishizuka
Satoshi Nozawa
Daichi Watanabe
Takuma Ishihara
Kazunari Yamada
Chizuo Iwai
Haruhiko Akiyama
author_facet Kyohei Ishizuka
Satoshi Nozawa
Daichi Watanabe
Takuma Ishihara
Kazunari Yamada
Chizuo Iwai
Haruhiko Akiyama
author_sort Kyohei Ishizuka
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the index of the sacral vertebrae fusion period in children and adolescents to diagnose the lesion around the sacral spine accurately. Methods Patients aged 0–40 years who underwent computed tomography (CT), including the normal sacrum for screening abdominal disorders and pan-scan in trauma between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively examined. There were 402 eligible sacra (385 patients: 206 women and 179 men). We evaluated bony fusion at six parts of the sacral vertebrae (anterior or posterior of each intervertebral and both side lateral masses). The predicted probability of bony fusion obtained from the logistic regression model is depicted graphically by sex. Results The association between bony fusion in each vertebral segment and age was evaluated using a logistic regression model with a Huber–White robust sandwich estimator, including the patient as a clustering variable. Bony fusion of the sacral bodies of S1/S2 was slowest, with 80% of patients achieving bony fusion at 28.7 and 24.6 years of age for men and women, respectively. Compared to men, women exhibited earlier fusion of the intervertebral segments of the sacral vertebrae; however, no significant difference between the sexes in terms of eventual bony fusion at the lateral mass was observed, while the initiation of bony fusion occurred earlier in women. Conclusion The predicted probability of bony fusion could aid pediatricians, orthopedists, radiologists, and other physicians in understanding the normal development of the sacral spine and accurately differentiating the lesion around the sacral spine.
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spelling doaj-art-9e5aabad10014978bcf66cd379a88d852025-08-20T02:11:57ZengBMCBMC Musculoskeletal Disorders1471-24742025-04-012611910.1186/s12891-025-08597-wAge-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imagingKyohei Ishizuka0Satoshi Nozawa1Daichi Watanabe2Takuma Ishihara3Kazunari Yamada4Chizuo Iwai5Haruhiko Akiyama6Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University School of MedicineInnovative and Clinical Research Promotion Center, Gifu University HospitalInnovative and Clinical Research Promotion Center, Gifu University HospitalDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University School of MedicineDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, Gifu University School of MedicineAbstract Background This study aimed to determine the index of the sacral vertebrae fusion period in children and adolescents to diagnose the lesion around the sacral spine accurately. Methods Patients aged 0–40 years who underwent computed tomography (CT), including the normal sacrum for screening abdominal disorders and pan-scan in trauma between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively examined. There were 402 eligible sacra (385 patients: 206 women and 179 men). We evaluated bony fusion at six parts of the sacral vertebrae (anterior or posterior of each intervertebral and both side lateral masses). The predicted probability of bony fusion obtained from the logistic regression model is depicted graphically by sex. Results The association between bony fusion in each vertebral segment and age was evaluated using a logistic regression model with a Huber–White robust sandwich estimator, including the patient as a clustering variable. Bony fusion of the sacral bodies of S1/S2 was slowest, with 80% of patients achieving bony fusion at 28.7 and 24.6 years of age for men and women, respectively. Compared to men, women exhibited earlier fusion of the intervertebral segments of the sacral vertebrae; however, no significant difference between the sexes in terms of eventual bony fusion at the lateral mass was observed, while the initiation of bony fusion occurred earlier in women. Conclusion The predicted probability of bony fusion could aid pediatricians, orthopedists, radiologists, and other physicians in understanding the normal development of the sacral spine and accurately differentiating the lesion around the sacral spine.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08597-wSacral spine developmentSacrumAdolescentBony fusion
spellingShingle Kyohei Ishizuka
Satoshi Nozawa
Daichi Watanabe
Takuma Ishihara
Kazunari Yamada
Chizuo Iwai
Haruhiko Akiyama
Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders
Sacral spine development
Sacrum
Adolescent
Bony fusion
title Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
title_full Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
title_fullStr Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
title_full_unstemmed Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
title_short Age-specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
title_sort age specific normative values of sacral development and fusion in children and adolescents a cross sectional study utilizing multiplanar reconstruction computed tomography imaging
topic Sacral spine development
Sacrum
Adolescent
Bony fusion
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-025-08597-w
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