Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Clin Anat. 2014 Apr;27(3):370-5. doi: 10.1002/ca.22218. Epub 2013 Feb 13.
The spine of L4 usually lies on a line drawn between the highest points of the iliac crests (Tuffier's line) in adults. Although its accuracy has been questioned, it is still commonly used to identify the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra before performing lumbar neuraxial procedures. In children, this line is said to cross the midline at the level of L5. A literature search revealed that the description this surface anatomical line is vague in neonates. The aims of this study were to determine the vertebral level of Tuffier's line, as well as its distance from the apex of the sacrococcygeal membrane (ASM), in 39 neonatal cadavers in both a prone and flexed position. It was found that when flexed, Tuffier's line shifted from the level of L4/L5 (prone position) to the upper third of L5. The mean distance from the ASM to Tuffier's line was 23.64mm when prone and 25.47 mm when flexed, constituting a statistically significant increase in the distance (P=0.0061). Therefore, in the absence of advanced imaging modalities, Tuffier's line provides practitioners with a simple method of determining a level caudal to the termination of the spinal cord, at approximately the L4/L5 in a prone neonate and the upper margins of L5 when flexed.
成人的第四腰椎棘突通常位于髂嵴最高点(Tuffier 线)的连线上。虽然其准确性受到质疑,但在进行腰椎神经轴内操作之前,它仍然常用于识别第四腰椎的棘突。在儿童中,这条线据说在 L5 水平穿过中线。文献检索显示,在新生儿中,这条表面解剖线的描述比较模糊。本研究的目的是在 39 例新生儿尸体的俯卧位和弯曲位中确定 Tuffier 线的椎骨水平及其与骶尾膜顶点(ASM)的距离。结果发现,当弯曲时,Tuffier 线从 L4/L5 水平(俯卧位)移至 L5 的上三分之一。ASM 到 Tuffier 线的平均距离在俯卧位时为 23.64mm,在弯曲位时为 25.47mm,距离有统计学显著增加(P=0.0061)。因此,在没有先进的成像方式的情况下,Tuffier 线为临床医生提供了一种简单的方法,可以在俯卧位新生儿的大约 L4/L5 水平和弯曲时 L5 的上缘确定脊髓末端以下的水平。