MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF LUMBAR VERTEBRAE IN CENTRAL INDIAN POPULATION AND ITS CLINICAL IMPORTANCE.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Sonali Agichani,
#183, Kalani Nagar,
Airport Road, Indore,
Madhya Pradesh, India.
E-mail: drsonaliagichani@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Low back pain is a major health problem. This is due to inadequate adaptation in lumbar part of vertebral column commensurate with evolution of bipedal gait. Adequate morphometric information about the bodies of lumbar vertebrae is essential to neuro and spinal surgeons for various operative procedures of the spine.

So, the present study aims to provide data of anterior and posterior heights of bodies of lumbar vertebrae in Central Indians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Anterior and posterior heights of bodies of lumbar vertebrae were measured digitally in:

1. 10 cadavers (Age: 40 - 60 years) by Vernier Calipers.
2. 120 normal lateral view digital radiographs in the age groups of 21 - 30 years (Group I), 31 - 40 years (Group II) and 41 - 50 years (Group III) in both the sexes.

RESULTS

Average heights of all the lumbar vertebrae were recorded in centimetres as follows:

1. Average anterior height was found to be: L1- 2.15, L2- 2.26, L3- 2.38, L4- 2.25 and L5- 2.34 cms in cadavers, while on radiographs it was found to be: L1- 2.79, L2- 2.93, L3- 2.93, L4- 2.92 and L5- 2.93 cms.
2. Average posterior height was found to be: L1- 2.37, L2- 2.46, L3- 2.40, L4- 2.30 and L5- 2.12 cms in cadavers, while on radiographs it was found to be: L1- 2.98, L2- 3.06, L3- 3.07, L4- 2.90 and L5- 2.72 cms.

CONCLUSION

Average anterior height < posterior height in all the lumbar vertebrae except at L5 in cadavers and L4-L5 on radiographs. In both cadavers and radiographs, average anterior height increases from L1 to L3, decreases at L4 and increases again at L5. Average posterior height increases upto L2 in cadavers and upto L3 on radiographs. The difference in anterior and posterior heights of bodies of all the lumbar vertebrae in different age groups studied is not significant. It is found that the gender difference in anterior and posterior heights of bodies of various lumbar vertebrae is statistically significant. The present study emphasises the importance of preoperative conventional radiography of each patient in planning a surgical procedure, selecting the appropriate size of the instruments, designing implants and treatment of low back pain. Moreover, these normal figures could also be of forensic importance because of the observed regional variations in lumbar vertebrae.

KEY WORDS

Lumbar Vertebrae, Morphometry, Low Back Pain.