Lumbar vertebral canal morphometry for computerised tomography in spinal stenosis.

Computerised tomography is described in recent literature as a sophisticated but noninvasive technique with a particularly appropriate application in the discovery of space-occupying lesions in the lumbar vertebral canal and nerve root tunnels. Although the spinal stenosis syndrome must remain a clinical diagnosis in the first instance, computerised tomography is expected to play an increasing role in confirming the presumptive diagnosis of developmental or degenerative spinal stenosis, and in confirming the presence of a trefoil configuration or narrow lateral recess. However, the diagnosis of spinal stenosis on computerised tomography is impossible unless dimensions can be compared with established ranges of normal. The morphometry of a large sample of human skeletons of both sexes, in two race groups, and for each of the five lumbar vertebral levels, is intended to provide this information.