Measurements of the lumbar spinal canal in normal adult Chinese people
ZHU Ji-lan1, HE Shu-gang2, HAN Jin-hua1, ZHANG Ming-di1
1. Department of Radiology, the Second Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao Shandong 266042, China; 2. Department of Radiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao Shandong 266003, China
Abstract：Objective: To determine the normal dimensions of the lumbar spinal canal of Chinese people with CT, and to provide criteria for diagnosing spinal stenosis. Methods: CT scans of 100 normal adult Chinese people age ranged from 21～55 years were studied to obtain accurate data of lumbar spinal canal. The study population was composed of 50 men and 50 women. Six parameters were measured from each vertebral level, including the transverse and sagittal diameters of lumbar spinal canal, the width of vertebral bodies, and the interfacet distance. All the data were statistically analyzed for differences between men and women. Result: The results showed that for Chinese people there is a significant sex difference(P<0.01 or P<0.001) for transverse interpedicular distance(IPD), vertebral body width(VBW), and interfacet distance(IFD), but not for sagittal diameter(SD). The ratio between the width of the vertebral body and the mean transverse diameter of the lumbar spinal canal(canal/body ration; C/B) is 0.52～0.55. The ratio between IPD and IFD is 0.76～0.79. Conclusion: The normal diameter of the lumbar spinal canal in adult Chinese people can be obtained from CT. From these data, we can provide some parameters for diagnosing spinal stenosis.
2008, Vol. 19 
