[Results of radio-anatomic studies of the lumbar spine in patients with intervertebral disk prolapse and in healthy subjects. 2: Spinal canal and intervertebral foramina].

Radioanatomic research on the spinal canal and intervertebral foramina was carried out in 225 patients suffering from disk herniation. The control group numbered 50. Statistically significant differences in spinal canal structure were observed, showing smaller lumina in most patients, and in some also an irregular course along the long axis. The anteroposterior diameter (width) of the intervertebral foramina was also smaller in the patient group. The most evident anatomic differences appeared in the lower lumbar segments, i.e., the area most affected by intervertebral disk herniation. This suggests a relation between the type of spinal structure and the tendency to disk herniation.