Abstract:Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship of T1 slope as well as other sagittal balance parameters with degree of degeneration in patients with cervical disc degeneration. Methods: From August 2016 to August 2017, 60 patients of cervical degenerative diseases had conformed to the selection criteria, including 25 males and 35 females, whose age was between 51 to 68 years old (average of 61) having 5~13 months (average of 9.6) courses of disease. All patients had taken lateral X-ray and MR of cervical spine. The diseased intervertebral disc degeneration grades were classified according to Pfirrmann evaluation system. Based on Picture Archiving and Communication System(PACS), the following cervical sagittal balance parameters were measured : Sagittal Vertical Axis (C2-7SVA), Cervical Lordosis angel (CL), Thoracic inlet angle (TIA), neck tilt (NT), T1-Slope (T1S). From T1S measurement values, all the patients were divided into 2 groups, i.e. Group A (less than 25 degrees) and Group B (over 25 degrees) to compare the different cervical intervertebral disc of segments degeneration grades. Via segments degeneration grades measurement values, all the patients were also divided into another 2 groups, Group N and Group M,to compare with the sagittal balance parameters. Results: In low T1 slope group, average degeneration grade of each cervical segment was 2.45 in C2-3, 2.65 in C3-4, 2.79 in C4-5, 3.20 in C5-6, and 2.75 in C6-7. And that of high T1 group was 2.55 in C2-3, 2.70 in C3-4, 2.88 in C4-5, 2.88 in C5-6, and 2.24 in C6-7. Grade of degeneration of low T1 group was significantly higher, as compared with high T1 group in C5-6 and C6-7 (p<0.05). Among groups A and B, no statistic significant difference was shown with C2-3, C3-4 and C4-5 disc degeneration. There was also statistic significant difference in other cervical sagittal balance parameters (P<0.05) with C5-6 and C6-7 disc degeneration. In group N,TIA,TIS,NT,CL and C2-7SVA were respectively 75.8±9.2°,23.5±7.1°,52.1±9.6°, 18.8±6.1°and 15.1±8.5 mm, while in group M, TIA,TIS,NT,CL and C2-7SVA were respectively 76.5±9.6°, 23.2±6.7°,53.6±8.4°, 13.2±5.3°and 20.2±11.4 mm. Among groups M and N, no statistic significant difference was shown with TIA, TIS and NT, (p>0.05)but statistic significant difference was shown with CL and C2-7SVA. (p<0.05) Conclusion:Cervical sagittal alignment has great impact on cervical intervertebral disc degeneration. Low T1 slope is a potential risk factor of cervical spondylosis especially in the C5-6 and C6-7 cervical segment.