Comparative study of the intervertebral spaces in the normal and the disc patients

Lee, Y K; Lee, B H; Lee, J E

Abstract

The herniated lumbar disc is one of the common causes to produce low-back pain. The plain flms of laterallumbar spine of one hundred caes of the herniated lumbar disc and another one hundred cases of normal patientsproved on myelograms were studied. The heights of the lumbar vertbral bodies, and the lumbar lordosis weremeasured. The results are as follows; 1. The mean height of the 3rd lumbar spinal body is largest among the lumbarspines and the upper 2 lumbar spines show an anterior wedging and the lower 2 spines show a posterior wedging. 2.The heights of the lumbar disc spaces have increasing tendency down to the L4 and L5 interspace. The height of L5and S1 interspace is most variable and the mean is almost equal with that of L3 and L4 interspace in male and ofL4 and L5 interspace in female, 3. In cases of herniated disc between L4 and L5, about 45% of the patients hasnarrowed disc space smaller than that of L3 and L4. 4. In the patients with herniated lumbar disc, the mean valuesof lumbar disc spaces are evidently decreased upto 3mm. than those in the normal group. 5. In normal group theoverall mean depth of the lumbar lordosis is 8.4mm. in male and 8.33mm. in female, and they show significantdecrease in the disc group. 6. The overall mean degree of the lumbar lordosis is 4.59% in normal goup and it isslightly decreased in disc group as 3.66%. 7. In case of the narrowed disc space 2mm.more than the normal value, the coexistence of narrowing of disc space more than 2mm. from the value of the just above space is evident sighof heriated lumbar disc.