Radiograph-based Morphometric Classification of Lumbar Spinal Canal

Abstract

Lumbar canal volume is measured by the pedicle length and interpedicular distance on plain radiographs of the lumbar spine. Since the L4 level of the lumbar spine is the central level of the lumbar canal. This level is the most commonly affected level of the lumbar spine in various pathologies like a prolapsed intervertebral disk (PIVD), lumbar canal stenosis, including discogenic or degenerative spinal disorders. During our observations, we found various patterns of lumbar spine morphology based on pedicle length and interpedicular distance of the L4 vertebra on anteroposterior and lateral lumbar spine radiographs. This new approach to divide the lumbar spine morphology into these classes will help us in predicting the susceptibility of an individual to various types of LBP and neurological complications. This will also help the operating surgeon in planning the various surgical interventions for various lumbar pathologies based on the morphology of the lumbar spine.

Keywords

• lumbar spinal canal
• morphology
• radiographic