ABSTRACT

Aim:

To investigate the relationship between spinal canal area and the anatomic dimensions of the spinal canal at the thoracolumbar junction measured by computed tomography (CT) in the Turkish population.

Materials and Methods:

The retrospective study reviewed the CT records of 100 consecutive patients that presented to the emergency services in Koc University Hospital. Measurements were performed for the anatomic dimensions of the spinal canal in both T12 and L1 by the same physician. The anatomic dimensions of the spinal canal including pediculolaminar angle, interlaminar angle, bipedicular base distance, spinal canal anterior-posterior (AP) diameter, spinal canal transverse diameter, and spinal canal area were measured and their relationships with spinal canal area were analyzed.

Results:

The 100 patients comprised 62 (62%) women and 38 (38%) men with a mean age of 48 (range, 16-87) years. A significant difference was found between T12 and L1 with regard to bipedicular base distance in women and no significant difference was found between T12 and L1 in both men and women. In both T2 and L1, although spinal canal area had no significant correlation with the pediculolaminar and interlaminar angles, it had a moderate correlation with spinal canal transverse diameter, spinal canal AP diameter, and bipedicular base distance.

Conclusion:

The results indicated that no significant relationship was found between spinal canal area and the pediculolaminar and interlaminar angles while a significant relationship was found between spinal canal area and spinal canal transverse diameter, spinal canal AP diameter, and bipedicular base distance in both T12 and L1. Moreover, no significant relationship was found between age and spinal canal area in these vertebrae.