Research Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2009
Volume: 4
Issue: 4
Page No. 494 - 498

Evaluation of Lumbar Canal Diameter and Areas by Computed Tomography

Authors : Zinat Miabi and Omid Mashrabi

Abstract: Determining normal ranges of spinal canal diameters, we can make initial diagnosis in persons who have lower diameters of spinal canal. These persons are predisposed to spinal canal stenosis that is a major cause of spinal radiculopathies. In different studies performed in several countries, minimum and maximum ranges of spinal canal diameters were different for each population. In this study, we tried to determine the mean values of normal spinal canal diameters and areas  in Tabriz and its suburb. Thirty nine healthy, young to mid-age cases were selected. Our study was focused on L3-L4 and L4-L5. The following parameters were measured: the area of cross-section of the vertebral body, the area of cross-section of the dural sac, interarticular diameter, interligamentous diameter, antero-posterior diameter of the lumbar canal, inter-pedicular diameter and the area of cross-section of the vertebral canal. A correlation between the parameters studied and the height of subjects was significant for interligamentous diameter (for L3/L4 and L4/L5) and interarticular diameter (only at L3/L4), cross-section area of the vertebrae (both L3 and L4), cross-section area of vertebral canal (only at L5 level), area of dural sac (at L3/L4 and L4). It was suggested that these diameters and areas should be interpreted as unction of height of the subject. Most of diameters studied had smaller means than those in previous studies. This can be attributed to differences between populations and it can be interpreted as predisposition to spinal canal stenosis in our population.

How to cite this article:

Zinat Miabi and Omid Mashrabi, 2009. Evaluation of Lumbar Canal Diameter and Areas by Computed Tomography. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 494-498.

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