Obiettivo The aim of the research is to develop and apply a tool to quantify vertebral compressive damage in the human thoracolumbar spine. In the first phase, the morphology of the vertebrae of the normal, non-injured spine will be measured to obtain a standard range of shapes (both absolute and relative) of the spinal components. The "standard" will be used in a second phase (which is not part of this contract) to quantify the prevalence of vertebral compressive damage in cohorts of the coal and steel industries who have been exposed to heavy physical exertions or vibration at the workplace.In phase 1 of the planned research programme, the shape of vertebral bodies from lateral X-rays of the dorsal spine of young, male and female persons will be measured. The parameters to be measured comprise the anterior, middle and posterior vertebral height and the vertebral body diameter in the region from the 4th thoracic to the fifth lumbar vertebra. In addition to the lateral protected shape of the vertebral bodies, information on the volume of the invertebral disc will be retrieved. The disc volume is characterised in the sagittal projection by the area between the two end plates of adjacent vertebral bodies. To define the normal shape of the spinal components, measurements have to be taken for all vertebrae and adjoining discs from Th4 to L5. The correlation of these measures will be computed. Before digitisation, each X-ray will be seen by a radiologist and/or by an orthopaedic surgeon to eliminate those X-rays which show any indication of a compression fracture. METHODS AND MEANS BY WHICH THE AIMS ARE TO BE ACHIEVEDThe vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs will be measured in all the laboratories, following an identical protocol, using an x-y digitisation tablet, connected to a computer : since, in order to respect medical secrecy, shipping of X-rays is not permitted, each laboratory will need its own measuring equipment. For statistical purposes, therefore, all the data will be pooled and evaluated on a main frame computer. Programma(i) ECSC-MEDRES 5C - Fifth medical research programme (ECSC) "Protection of workers against risks arising from work in the coal and steel industries", 1988-1992 Argomento(i) Data not available Invito a presentare proposte Data not available Meccanismo di finanziamento CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinatore Institut für Experimentelle Biomechanik Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo Domagkstraße 48149 DORTMUND Germania Mostra sulla mappa Costo totale Nessun dato
