Clinical Correlations to Specific Phenotypes and Measurements With Classification Systems: Lumbosacral Spine

Abstract This chapter examines the various classification schemes utilized to categorize alignment, assess boney anomalies, and assess disc vitality to identify potential lumbosacral disease and injury. Spinal pathophysiology is often multifactorial. On occasions, the severity of pathology and treatment is clear. In other instances, the pathology is more nuanced, requiring additional clinical and radiographic assessments. These cases have led to the development of multiple imaging-based classification systems in an attempt to identify which patients will respond appropriately to a specific intervention. An understanding of the classification schemes currently utilized is invaluable as it further solidifies their clinical significance and continues to drive research forward.