A Study of Transverse Diameter of Lumbar Vertebral Canal in North Indian Population.

ABSTRACT

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a medical condition occurring due to reduction in the diameter of bony vertebral canal. The transverse diameter of the canal plays a significant role in determining diagnostic criteria for defining stenosis. The present study aims at defining baseline values of transverse diameter of lumbar vertebral canal in healthy north Indian population by radio-diagnosis. Fifty healthy subjects, within age range of 20-70 years were radio-imaged and transverse diameter of vertebral body and canal were assessed. There was a gradual increase in diameter from L1 to L5 vertebral levels. The means of transverse diameter of vertebral body and vertebral canal show no significant differences between genders and the results were compared with earlier published research work. There are subtle differences in morphometry of lumbar canal in different population group suggesting regional and ethnic differences.