Analysis and Measurement of the Lumbar Spinal Canal Dimension using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Dae Moo Shim; Yun Hong Choi; Jung Hwan Yang; Sung Kyun Oh; Chae Geun Kim; Jung Hyun Park

doi:10.4055/jkoa.2008.43.5.588

Journal List > J Korean Orthop Assoc > v.43(5) > 1012833

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Shim, Choi, Yang, Oh, Kim, and Park: Analysis and Measurement of the Lumbar Spinal Canal Dimension using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association

Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association 2008; 43(5): 588-594.

Published online: 31 October 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2008.43.5.588

Analysis and Measurement of the Lumbar Spinal Canal Dimension using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Dae Moo Shim, M.D., Yun Hong Choi, M.D., Jung Hwan Yang, M.D., Sung Kyun Oh, M.D., Chae Geun Kim, M.D., Jung Hyun Park, M.D.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to Yun Hong Choi, M.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, 344-2, Shinyong-dong, Iksan 570-711, Korea. Tel: +82.63-859-1360, Fax: +82.63-852-9329, oscyh@dreamwiz.com

Abstract

Purpose

It is very difficult to measure the spinal canal dimension in elderly patients because of disc degeneration and facet joint hypertrophy. The purpose of this study is to determine reference values of the spinal canal dimension in a population of normal Korea subjects and to evaluate other measurement methods of the spinal canal dimension that correlate to normal spinal canal dimensions determined using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods

We studied 100 patients who had mild symptoms and had normal MRI findings from 2475 outpatients that had undergone lumbar MRI from November 2002 to May 2004. The dimension of the spinal canal and dural sac was measured at the center of intervertebral discs L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1. The dimension of the spinal canal and vertebral body was measured and was compared at the transverse plane perpendicular to the spinal canal that transected L4, L5 and the S1 pedicle.

Results

For the sequence of L3/4, L4/5 and L5/S1, the mean spinal canal dimensions were 249.38±38.30 mm², 253.04±48.62 mm² and 288.46±57.62 mm², respectively. For the sequence of L4, L5 and S1, the mean spinal canal dimensions were 279.78±42.36 mm², 301.50±54.26 mm² and 355.10±60.65 mm², respectively. The correlation coefficient was high at 0.913 for the L3/4 and L4 interpedicular transverse plane. The correlation coefficient for L4/5 and L5 was 0.905, and the correlation coefficient for L5/S1 and S1 was 0.845.

Conclusion

The lumbar spinal canal dimension measured at the intervertebral disc level in a population of normal Korean subjects is expected to be useful as reference data. The transpedicular plane perpendicular to the spinal canal can give information for estimating the spinal canal dimension at the disc level.

Keywords: Lumbar spinal stenosis, Magnetic resonance image, Spinal canal dimension

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

This MR image shows to measure the spinal canal dimension in disc level using PACS.

Fig. 2

This MR image shows to measure the dural sac dimension using PACS.

Table 1

The Spinal Canal Dimension (mm²) at Each Intervertebral Disc Space

Table 2

The Spinal Canal Dimension (mm²) at Each Pedicle Level

Table 3

Proportion of Spinal Canal Dimension at the Intervertebral Disc Space and Pedicle Level

Table 4

Dural Sac Dimension (mm²), AP Diameter (mm), Transverse Diameter (mm) at Each Intervertebral Disc Space and Vertebral Body Transverse Dimension at Each Pedicle Level

Table 5

Correlation of the Spinal Canal Dimension at the Intervertebral Disc Space with the Dural Sac Dimension, AP Diameter, Transverse Diameter and Vertebral Body Transverse Dimension using Pearson Correlation Coefficients

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