Anatomical Study of Lumbar Vertebrae and Intervertebral Space in Korean Adults

Park, Byung Chul; Oh, Chang Wug; Min, Woo Kie

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: We have studied anatomical dimension and shape of lumbar vertebrae and disc from MRI scan of lumbar spine of 467 patients.
OBJECTIVES
In order to provide the basic information and understandings for appropriate spinal instrumentation, development and production of implant and diagnosis of disc disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are few data on the anatomical demension and shape of lumbar vertebrae in Korean adults.
METHODS
The MRI scan of lumbar spine of 467 patients were obtained from Oct. 1996 to Jul. 1998. According to Thompson's criteria, Grade I and II were considered as normal intervertebral disc. Anterior-posterior distance of the center of superior end plate surface, anterior-posterior distance of at edge of the spinal canal, distance between the edges of the spinal canal, transverse diameter of dura sac, surface area of superior end plate(cm(2)), shape of posterior margin of intervertebral disc, anterior and posterior height of intervertebral space and shape of the intervertebral disc were measured on T1 and T2 weighted image of MRI.
RESULTS
Anteroposterior distance of L5 spine was longest but anteroposterior distance of S1 was 2.68cm. The difference between anterior and posterior height of intervertebral space was gradually increased to lower level of the lumbar spine as segmental lordosis was increased. The shapes of posterior margin of intervertebral disc were concave at L1-2 and L2-3, flat at L3-4, and convex at L4-5 and L5-S1. The shapes of the intervertebral disc space were mostly pot shape at L1-2 and L2-3, dish shape at L3-4 and L4-5, but at L5-S1, trapezoidal shape was most popular. There was no statistical significance between age and sex in Korean adults.
CONCLUSIONS
There were some individual variance in anatomical dimension of lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral disc, it is necessary to understand details of anatomical structure when the surgeon choose proper implant and diagnose disc disease.