PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to quantify the interspinous anatomy at the L4/5 and L5/S1 levels. METHODS:One hundred reconstructed computer tomography scans of the lumbosacral spine were reviewed by two separate surgeons. Data were collected from the midline sagittal reconstructed image at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels. Measurements obtained included the disc angle, anterior and posterior disc height, and maximum interspinous space in both the anterior-posterior and cephalad-caudal directions. The disc height and disc angle were correlated with the interspinous height. RESULTS:The mean age of the patients reviewed was 47 years (range: 16-91; standard deviation: 20). According to our data population, the average length of the interspinous space was larger at the L4-5 level (13 mm) than the L5-S1 level (9 mm). The interspinous height was similar between the two levels. A poor correlation existed between the disc height or disc angle and the interspinous height. There was no correlation between measurements and age. CONCLUSIONS: The interspinous space available, as defined by computer tomography, at the L5/S1 level, is less able to accommodate current interspinous devices compared to the adjacent L4/5 level. The limiting factor is the length of the sacral part of the L5-S1 interspinous space.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to quantify the interspinous anatomy at the L4/5 and L5/S1 levels. METHODS: One hundred reconstructed computer tomography scans of the lumbosacral spine were reviewed by two separate surgeons. Data were collected from the midline sagittal reconstructed image at the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels. Measurements obtained included the disc angle, anterior and posterior disc height, and maximum interspinous space in both the anterior-posterior and cephalad-caudal directions. The disc height and disc angle were correlated with the interspinous height. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients reviewed was 47 years (range: 16-91; standard deviation: 20). According to our data population, the average length of the interspinous space was larger at the L4-5 level (13 mm) than the L5-S1 level (9 mm). The interspinous height was similar between the two levels. A poor correlation existed between the disc height or disc angle and the interspinous height. There was no correlation between measurements and age. CONCLUSIONS: The interspinous space available, as defined by computer tomography, at the L5/S1 level, is less able to accommodate current interspinous devices compared to the adjacent L4/5 level. The limiting factor is the length of the sacral part of the L5-S1 interspinous space.
Authors: James F Zucherman; Ken Y Hsu; Charles A Hartjen; Thomas F Mehalic; Dante A Implicito; Michael J Martin; Donald R Johnson; Grant A Skidmore; Paul P Vessa; James W Dwyer; Stephen T Puccio; Joseph C Cauthen; Richard M Ozuna Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2005-06-15 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Joshua C Richards; Sharmila Majumdar; Derek P Lindsey; Gary S Beaupré; Scott A Yerby Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2005-04-01 Impact factor: 3.468