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Supportive cushions produce no practical reduction in lumbar lordosis

¹ Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust and the University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ and ² Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 2SR, UK

Correspondence: V L Murrie, Level 5 Radiology, Box 219, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK

It is common practice to place a pillow or bolster under the knees of patients undergoing lumbar spine CT or MRI. The use of such supportive cushions leads to gentle hip flexion that is thought to ease pain and "reduce lumbar lordosis". It is also thought to facilitate axial imaging through the discs. Observations in seven subjects who underwent lumbar spine MRI with and without such hip flexion showed no appreciable change in the degree of lordosis. As the use of such devices does not produce a practical reduction of lumbar lordosis, the decision to employ them should be made entirely with respect to patient comfort.