Iwanaga Joe, Simonds Emily, Yilmaz Emre, Schumacher Maia, Patel Mayank, Tubbs R Shane
Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
Department of Anatomy, Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
Asian J Neurosurg. 2019 Nov 25;14(4):1203-1206. doi: 10.4103/ajns.AJNS_87_19. eCollection 2019 Oct-Dec.
The lumbar interspinous ligaments (ISLs) are thin and short fibers connecting adjacent spinous processes. However, their morphology is variably described and their biomechanics are not well understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the anatomy and biomechanics of the lumbar ISL.
Five fresh frozen cadaveric specimens were dissected posteriorly to reveal and study the lumbar ISL. Measurements of the ligaments included the anterior vertical height (length A), the posterior vertical height (length P), and the length (length H) at each lumbar level. Next, 17 lumbar vertebral levels from 6 cadaveric specimens were used for tensile strength testing. The ISLs were subjected to vertically controlled increasing manual tension. The force necessary to disrupt the ISL was recorded.
All the ISLs ran horizontally in an anterior-posterior direction with a slight curve. The average of length A, length P, and length H on the right sides was 9.82, 9.57, and 20.12 mm, respectively. The average of length A, length P, and length H on the left sides was 11.56, 12.01, and 21.42 mm, respectively. The mean tensile strength of the ISL was 162.33 (N) at L1/2, 85.67 (N) at L2/3, and 79 (N) at L3/4. There was a significant difference in the tensile force between L1/2 and L2/3 and L1/2 and L3/4 ( < 0.05). The ligaments became weaker with a descent along the lumbar levels.
The results of this study might help surgeons understand pathology/trauma of the lumbar vertebral region.
腰椎棘间韧带（ISLs）是连接相邻棘突的薄而短的纤维。然而，它们的形态描述不一，其生物力学也尚未得到充分理解。因此，本研究的目的是评估腰椎ISL的解剖结构和生物力学。
对五具新鲜冷冻尸体标本进行后路解剖，以显露和研究腰椎ISL。对韧带的测量包括每个腰椎节段的前垂直高度（长度A）、后垂直高度（长度P）和长度（长度H）。接下来，使用6具尸体标本的17个腰椎节段进行拉伸强度测试。对ISLs施加垂直控制的逐渐增加的手动张力。记录破坏ISL所需的力。
所有ISLs均沿前后方向水平走行，略有弯曲。右侧长度A、长度P和长度H的平均值分别为9.82、9.57和20.12mm。左侧长度A、长度P和长度H的平均值分别为11.56、12.01和21.42mm。ISL在L1/2水平的平均拉伸强度为162.33（N），在L2/3水平为85.67（N），在L3/4水平为79（N）。L1/2与L2/3以及L1/2与L3/4之间的拉伸力存在显著差异（<0.05）。韧带随着腰椎节段的下降而变弱。
本研究结果可能有助于外科医生了解腰椎区域的病理/创伤情况。
