Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the normal selected radiographic parameters (thoracic kyphosis (TK), anterior vertebral body height (AVBH), posterior vertebral body height (PVBH), intervertebral disc height (IVDH) and interpedicular distance (IPD)) in young to middle-aged males across the four racial groups in Durban. Participants: Eighty young to middle-aged apparently healthy males between the ages of 18-45 years from the White, Black, Indian and Coloured racial groups in Durban. Methodology: After written informed consent was acquired, all participants underwent a case history, physical examination and thoracic orthopaedic examination. An AP and lateral radiograph of the thoracic spine was then obtained. The TK, AVBH, PVBH, IVDH and IPD were assessed using methods described previously. The IBM SPSS version 20 was utilized for the data analysis. Mean, standard deviation (SD) and range are reported for the TK, AVBH, PVBH and IPD for each of the four racial groups. For the IVDH, however, the median for the respective vertebral levels is given. ANOVA testing with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to determine overall inter-group variations and compare each group to the other. Pearson’s correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the thoracic kyphosis and the other radiographic parameters that were assessed. Results : The mean, SD, minimum and maximum values of the thoracic kyphosis by racial group There was no significant difference in the TK among the four race groups. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the AVBH, PVBH, IVDH and IPD between the White, Black, Indian and Coloured males at various thoracic levels. Conclusion: The trends of the various radiographic parameters observed in this study support the argument that these parameters should be based on sex, age and geographic race. These values would be useful for South African spinal health care practitioners in the diagnosis and management of spinal disorders.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Introduction: Radiographic parameters of the cervical spine are utilized by chiropractors and spinal surgeons for making diagnoses and determining management protocols. However several researchers have reported discrepancies in these parameters which need to be investigated across ethnic groups and gender. Aim: To evaluate the normal selected cervical spine radiographic parameters i.e. the cervical lordosis (CL), sagittal canal diameter (SCD), interpedicular distance (IPD), and the cervical gravity line (CGL) in apparently healthy young to middle-aged males across four ethnic groups in Durban, KwaZulu Natal. Participants: Eighty healthy male participants between 18 and 45 years of age of White, Black, Indian and Coloured ethnicity. Methodology: A case history, physical examination and an orthopedic assessment of the cervical spine was conducted for each participant. Study-specific data such as age, ethnicity, weight and height were recorded. A lateral and an A-P radiograph of the cervical spine was taken of each participant. Selected radiographic parameters viz. SCD, IPD, CL, CGL were assessed and recorded. SPSS version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) was used for data analysis. Results: The mean (± SD) values of the CL, SCD and IPD are shown in the table below for the respective ethnic groups Parameter Ethnic Group Black (Mean (± SD)) White(Mean (± SD)) Indian(Mean (± SD)) Coloured (Mean (± SD)) CL° (C1-C7 method) 42.6° (± 9.6°) 46.2° (± 11.0°) 46.5° (± 11.3°) 47.7° (± 9.1°) CL° (C2-C7 method) 15.1° (± 6.4°) 17.4° (± 9.3°) 13.1° (± 10.2°) 18.1° (± 10.4°) SCD (mm) C2 22.1mm (± 1.6) 24.1mm (± 1.4) 22.8mm (± 1.7) 22.9mm (± 1.5) C3 19.5mm (± 1.6) 20.6mm (± 1.4) 19.7mm (± 1.6) 20.0mm (± 1.5) C4 18.6mm (± 1.9) 19.9mm (± 1.3) 19.1mm (± 1.6) 19.5mm (± 1.3) C5 18.9mm (± 1.8) 20.0mm (± 1.5) 19.3mm (± 1.7) 19.8mm (± 1.6) C6 18.8mm (± 1.7) 20.4mm (± 1.5) 19.5mm (± 1.6) 20.0mm (± 1.8) iv C7 18.5mm (± 1.7) 20.3mm (± 1.5) 19.4mm (± 1.6) 19.7mm (± 1.9) IPD (mm) C3 28.2mm (± 1.2) 28.9mm (± 1.8) 27.8mm (± 1.1) 29.1mm (± 1.4) C4 28.6mm (± 1.4) 29.6mm (± 1.8) 28.5mm (± 1.4) 29.5mm (± 1.6) C5 29.4mm (± 1.2) 30.0mm (± 1.7) 28.8mm (± 1.2) 30.1mm (± 1.5) C6 29.3mm (± 1.6) 30.7mm (± 1.6) 30.0mm (± 1.6) 30.1mm (± 1.5) C7 29.3mm (± 1.2) 30.1mm (± 1.5) 29.6mm (± 1.6) 30.3mm (± 1.9) There was anterior placement of the CGL in 60% of the Black ethnic group, 45% of the White ethnic group, 55.6% of the Indian ethnic group and 52.6% of the Coloured ethnic group. No significant differences in mean CL was observed across the four ethnic groups for both methods utilized (p > 0.05). The significant differences in SCD lay between the White and Black ethnic groups at C2, C6 and C7 (p = 0.002, 0.030 and 0.017, respectively, ANOVA). The C3 and C5 IPD varied significantly between the Coloured and Indian ethnic group (p = 0.048 and 0.027, respectively, ANOVA). The CGL was not influenced by the CL in all the ethnic groups. Conclusion: Significant differences were observed between ethnic groups for the SCD and IPD. These will assist South African health care practitioners with patient management within these ethnic groups when diagnosing spinal stenosis and tumors. A larger South African based population should be evaluated to confirm the trends observed utilizing digitized diagnostic imaging modalities including radiographs, CT and MRI scans as errors may occur during manual assessment of conventional radiographs.