[Tilting of vertebrae at the lower vertebral column rates according to importance (author's transl)].

Evaluation of 1876 x-ray films taken within a period of 10 years in an orthopaedic specialist practice because of lumbar vertebral column syndromes, leads to the following findings: 1. Measurement of the connecting lines between the highest point of both iliac crests on the one hand, and the caudal limitation of the arcuate outlines of the lumbar vertebrae 4 and 5 on the other, is tilted at an angle of at least 2 degrees in 663 patients (35.3 ol). 2. It is suggested that this phenomenon be characterized as vertebral tilting. 3. This method of measurement is useful in actual practice on account of its simplicit and easy interpretation. 4. Even slight degrees of tilting will usually result in significant scoliosis and will obviously lead prematurely and to an increased extent to secondary arthrotic changes in the movable segment. Hence, from the clinical point of view, these must be considered as prediscosis.