jsmc-10028

A MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF THE LUMBAR SPINE IN ASYMPTOMATIC SUBJECTS IN SULAIMANI CITY BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

Imad G Shukri *, Kawa A Mahmood ** and Shakhawan A Abdulrahman ***

*    Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, College of Medicine, University of Al-Mustanssyrrhia, Baghdad, Iraq.

**  Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sulaimani.

*** Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sulaimani.

Submitted: 8/4/2012; Accepted: 15/10/2012; Published 1/6/2013

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.17656/jsmc.10028

ABSTRACT

Background

There are no available local data regarding normal dimensions of the lumbar spine. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is a useful imaging method for the evaluation of spinal anatomy.

Objective

To evaluate normal dimensions of spinal canal, vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs.

Methods

This study was carried out on a total of 106 asymptomatic healthy Kurdish volunteers using a 1.5 Tesla MRI system in the imaging centre of Sulaimani Teaching Hospital.

Results

The mean midsagittal diameters of the lumbar bony spinal canal were 16.59 mm, 15.53 mm, 14.88 mm, 15.04 mm and 15.95 mm respectively. The mean intervertebral disc heights were 8.37 mm, 9.64 mm, 10.71 mm, 11.44 mm and 10.56 mm respectively.

Conclusion

The midsagittal spinal canal diameter is larger than that reported by other researchers in the neighboring countries.

KEYWORDS

Lumbar Vertebrae, Spinal canal, MRI.

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