X-rays of lumbar spine in new employees

Two hundred anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the lumbosacral spine were collected from two companies, corresponding to new male workers. The radiographs were taken and interpreted by two different radiologists, one for each company. Fewer alterations were found in the anteroposterior radiographs and greater alterations in the lateral radiographs. An average of 2.89 alterations per case was found. More radiographic alterations were found among older cases and in those with higher body weight (BMI) and there was no difference according to height, in the sum of the cases of both subgroups, in the relation to the median downward and median upward. There were differences in the findings and interpretation in both radiologists. The most frequent alterations were: pelvic tilt, decreased L5-S1 intervertebral space, scoliosis, hyperlordosis and unstable spine. Only 15 cases (1.28) were considered normal.