Moussallem C D, El Masri H, El-Yahchouchi C, Abou Fakher F, Ibrahim A
Department of Orthopedic and Spine Surgery, Center of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ain Wazein University Hospital, Ain Wazein, Lebanon.
Department of Surgery, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
Anat Res Int. 2014;2014:351769. doi: 10.1155/2014/351769. Epub 2014 Jul 3.
The level of termination of the conus medullaris (CM) and thecal sac (TS) is subject to variations. We try to correlate in this study these variations with the lumbar lordosis angle (LLA) using MRI scans. A retrospective study was conducted using available MRI scans of the lumbar spine. The CM level of termination (CMLT) and the TS level of termination (TSLT) were identified according to a vertebral level after dividing it into 3 parts. The LLA was also identified for each individual. Linear regression models were fitted to the data available on 141 individuals. Of these 70 were males and 71 were females. The most common site of CMLT was at the upper third of L1 (32.6%) and that of the TSLT was at the middle third of S2 (29.8%). The mean LLA was 46° (20°-81°). The most proximal CMLT was at the upper third of T12, whereas the most distal one was at the upper third of L2. The most proximal TSLT was at the upper third of S1, whereas the most distal one was at S3-S4 disc space. The CMLT showed a positive correlation with the LLA. In conclusion the CMLT and TSLT may be related to variations of the LLA.
脊髓圆锥(CM)和硬膜囊(TS)的终止水平存在变异。在本研究中,我们试图通过磁共振成像(MRI)扫描将这些变异与腰椎前凸角(LLA)相关联。我们利用现有的腰椎MRI扫描进行了一项回顾性研究。根据椎体水平将其分为3部分后,确定脊髓圆锥终止水平(CMLT)和硬膜囊终止水平(TSLT)。同时也为每个个体确定了腰椎前凸角。对141名个体的可用数据拟合线性回归模型。其中男性70名,女性71名。脊髓圆锥终止最常见的部位是L1上三分之一处(32.6%),硬膜囊终止最常见的部位是S2中三分之一处(29.8%)。平均腰椎前凸角为46°(20° - 81°)。脊髓圆锥终止最靠近头端的部位是T12上三分之一处,而最远离头端的部位是L2上三分之一处。硬膜囊终止最靠近头端的部位是S1上三分之一处,而最远离头端的部位是S3 - S4椎间盘间隙。脊髓圆锥终止水平与腰椎前凸角呈正相关。总之,脊髓圆锥终止水平和硬膜囊终止水平可能与腰椎前凸角的变异有关。