First Author (Corresponsing Author)
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| Main Author |
Dr Waseem Bashir |
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| Hospital |
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
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Authors
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| Second Author |
Dr Yoichiro Hirasawa
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| Third Author |
Prof Malcolm Pope
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| Four Author |
Prof Francis Smith
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| Title of Abstract |
Circadian variation in lumbar disc heights: a study comparing supine and standing using upright positional MRI. |
Abstract (abstract should be no more than 180 words) |
| Diurnal variation in human stature has been recognised for almost 300 years. An individual’s height has been found to be less in the evening as compared with that in the morning. No one has ever measured this physiological change accurately. With the availability of an MRI scanner capable of imaging in the standing as well as lying position, it is now possible to examine alterations in the morphology of the upright spine in a unique naturally loaded and biomechanically accurate position. 32 volunteers with no history of back pain were imaged using a 0.6T “upright” whole body MRI. Supine and standing scans were performed in the morning and evening. Each intervertebral disc had anterior and posterior heights measured. Cumulative loss of disc height was calculated. Supine and standing measurements were compared. A diurnal reduction and difference in disc height was confirmed between both postures. The time of day that the MRI scan was obtained influenced the height of the lumbar disc. The “upright” MRI has provided data for the first time in a weight-bearing posture.
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