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5. Dorsolumbar Region—Lateral Ftexion (Lateral Bending) Technique of Measurement
a. Place the patient in the neutral position (Figure 5).
b. Place the goniometer base as if measuring the neutral position (Figure 5). Measure the deviation from the neutral position with the goniometer arm and record the reading.
c. Consult the table below to determine the impairment of the whole person.
Example: A thoracolumbar region with ankylosis at 10° right lateral flexion is equivalent to 27% impairment of the whole person.
OR

d. Determine number and position of ankylosed vertebrae by appropriate x-ray methods. (Consult Table 6)
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Impairment Due To Ankylosis Of The Lumbosacral Region—Lateral Flexion
Region ankylosed at: % Impairment of Whole Person
0° (neutral position) 20%
10° 27%
20° 34%
30° (full right/left lateral flexion) 40%

Ankylosis in the lumbosacral spine has significance only if immobility occurs in both the hips and the lumbar spine region, so that the neutral position cannot be attained in the sagittal plane. This is a very rare event. Isolated fusions of either a hip or two to three spinal levels place additional stresses on adjacent segments, but do not lead to biomechanical failure of the functional unit. Thus, impairment re- lated to fusion of part of the lumbar/hip motion complex are treated only by radiographic methods Table

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