Nguyen Kai, Razzouk Jacob, Brandt Zachary, Carlson Patricia, Vyhmeister Ethan, Bouterse Alex, Wycliffe Nathaniel, Cheng Wayne, Danisa Olumide
School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
Department of Radiology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
Global Spine J. 2025 Mar;15(2):1013-1025. doi: 10.1177/21925682231220043. Epub 2023 Dec 7.
While the radiographic criteria for diagnosing central lumbar stenosis are well described, criteria for diagnosing neuroforaminal stenosis (NFS) are unclear. Prior research has utilized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to characterize neuroforaminal dimensions (NFDs). However, this approach has inherent limitations that can adversely impact measurement accuracy. Existing literature on the use of computed tomography (CT) to investigate normal NFDs is limited. The purpose of the present study was to describe normal lumbar NFDs that would aid in the establishment of objective quantitative criteria for the diagnosis of NFS.
This study evaluated CT imaging of 494 female and 506 male subjects between 18 and 35 years of age to determine normal NFDs, specifically the sagittal anteroposterior width, craniocaudal height, and area. Statistical analyses were performed to assess differences in NFDs according to variables including sex, height, weight, body mass index, and ethnicity.
Without differentiating between sides or disc levels, mean NFDs were 8.71 mm for sagittal anteroposterior width, 17.73 mm for craniocaudal height, and 133.26 mm for area (n = 10,000 measurements each). Male subjects had larger NFDs than females at multiple levels. Asian and Caucasian subjects had larger NFDs than Hispanic and African American subjects at multiple levels. There were no associations between NFDs and anthropometric factors.
The present study describes normal lumbar NFDs in young, healthy patients. NFDs were influenced by sex and ethnicity but not by anthropometric factors.
虽然诊断中央型腰椎管狭窄的影像学标准已得到充分描述，但诊断神经根管狭窄（NFS）的标准尚不清楚。先前的研究利用磁共振成像（MRI）来描述神经根管尺寸（NFD）。然而，这种方法存在固有的局限性，可能会对测量准确性产生不利影响。关于使用计算机断层扫描（CT）研究正常NFD的现有文献有限。本研究的目的是描述正常的腰椎NFD，这将有助于建立诊断NFS的客观定量标准。
本研究评估了494名年龄在18至35岁之间的女性和506名男性受试者的CT成像，以确定正常的NFD，特别是矢状前后径、头尾高度和面积。进行统计分析以评估根据性别、身高、体重、体重指数和种族等变量的NFD差异。
不区分左右侧或椎间盘节段，矢状前后径的平均NFD为8.71mm，头尾高度为17.73mm，面积为133.26mm²（每个测量值n = 10,000）。在多个节段，男性受试者的NFD大于女性。在多个节段，亚洲和白种人受试者的NFD大于西班牙裔和非裔美国受试者。NFD与人体测量因素之间没有关联。
本研究描述了年轻健康患者的正常腰椎NFD。NFD受性别和种族影响，但不受人体测量因素影响。
