DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v5i08.024

Pages: 3081-3086

Low back pain (LBP) is characterized by pain or discomfort in the lumbar region, below the costal margin and above the gluteal fold that may or may not irradiate to the thigh. In case of absent or small twelfth rib, these functions of Quadratus Lumborum (QL) muscle may be disturbed and can be cause of low backache persistence or recurrences. But there is no sufficient supporting literature on the size of twelfth rib and variation in size in Indian Population. This study focusses on calculation of normal range of twelfth rib size in Indian Population which can further be utilized to analyse the role of QL size differences and low backache issues in patients with small or absent twelfth rib. Two hundred OPD patients were randomly selected for measurement of 12th rib size on both sides. Twelfth ribs on both sides are measured either on chest x ray or Dorsolumbar spine xrays. Results for right rib are 6.6 – 15 cm and left twelfth ribs are 6.4 – 14.5 cm. From all the statistical analysis, it is concluded that any twelfth rib short in length than 6.5 cm can be coined as small twelfth rib.