OBJECTIVETo study the fundamental anatomy of transferring T(9-12) nerve roots to L(2-4) nerve root for the quadriceps function recovery inside the spinal canal of paraplegia.

METHODSThoracic and lumbar spinal canal and spinal dura mater of 5 adult cadavers (male 2 and female 3) were opened and explored. Investigated including: the position which T₉-L₄ nerve root generated from spinal cord; the relation between the position which T₉-L₄ nerve root generated from spinal cord and T₁₂ vertebrae and L₁ vertebrae; The length beginning part of T₉-L₄ nerve root inside the spinal canal. The diameter of T₉-L₄ nerve root. The distance between the T₉-L₄ nerve root separately. The distance between the position which T(9-12) nerve root separately generated from dura mater and the middle of L₂ vertebrae.

RESULTST₉ nerve root generated from the middle part of T₉ vertebrae; L₄ nerve root generates from middle part of L₂ vertebrae. The average length of T₉-L₄ nerve root inside the spinal canal separately was 16.12, 22.97, 30.43, 43.47, 56.02, 70.03, 88.70 and 113.65 mm. The average diameter of T₉-L₄ nerve root separately was 2.45, 2.04, 1.96, 2.18, 2.32, 2.56, 3.10 and 3.26 mm. The average distance between the beginning part of T₉-L₄ nerve root separately was 22.87, 25.08, 28.47, 27.38, 29.78, 31.93 and 31.00 mm. The average distance between the position which T(9-12) nerve root separately generated from dura mater and the middle of L₂ vertebrae was 118.69, 95.82, 70.74, and 42.27 mm.

CONCLUSIONST(9-12) nerve root can be used as donor nerve for repair L(2-4) nerve root. The level of L₂ vertebrae can be anastomose site of the recipient nerve.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; Male ; Nerve Transfer ; Spinal Canal ; anatomy & histology ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology

OBJECTIVETo offer normal reference of diameter of the cervical spinal cord and available diameter of cervical spinal canal and to screen scientific radiographic criteria to define and quantify cervical spinal cord disease.

METHODSThe magnetic resonance images of 120 normal people had been measured. The data of diameters of cervical spinal cord, CSF, M, the ratio of diameters of cord and CSF, and the ratio of diameters of cord and M had been collected and statistical analysis was made. And the relationships between the data above and each of gender, the length of C-spine and age were evaluated. In addition, the ratio of diameters of cord and CSF, and the ratio of diameters of cord and M was evaluated.

RESULTSThe study showed that in healthy people, the diameters of cervical spinal cord, CSF and M was larger in the males than in the females, decreased with age, and increased with the length of C-spine but the diameter of CSF. And the ratio of diameters of cord and CSF increased with age and not affected by the length of C-spine. However, the ratio of diameters of cord and M was not affected by age and the length of C-spine.

CONCLUSIONThe ratio of diameters of cord and M is not affected by individual variation and can be used to evaluate cervical spinal cord atrophy, compression and impaired in patients with cervical myelopathy and can be important information in looking for clinically critical points.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Canal ; anatomy & histology ; Spinal Cord ; anatomy & histology

Sheep are commonly used as a model for human spinal orthopaedic research due to their similarity in morphological and biomechanical features. This study aimed to document the volumes of vertebral bodies and compare the generated results as well as morphometry of the sheep lumbar spine to human published data. For this purpose, computed tomography scans were carried out on five adult Merino sheep under general anaesthesia. Transverse 5 mm thick images were acquired from L1 to L6 using a multi-detector-row helical CT scanner. Volume measurements were performed with dedicated software. Four spinal indices and Pavlov's ratio were calculated. Thereafter, the generated data were compared to published literature on humans. The mean vertebral body volume showed an increase towards the caudal vertebrae, but there were no significant differences between the vertebral levels (P>0.05). Compared to humans, sheep vertebral body volumes were 48.6% smaller. The comparison of absolute values between both species revealed that sheep had smaller, longer and narrower vertebral bodies, thinner intervertebral discs, narrower spinal canal, longer transverse processes, shorter dorsal spinous processes and narrower, higher pedicles with more lateral angulations. The comparison of the spinal indices showed a good similarity to human in terms of the vertebral endplates and spinal canal. The results of this study may be helpful for using the sheep as a model for human orthopaedic spinal research if anatomical differences are taken into account.
Adult ; Anatomy, Comparative ; Humans* ; Intervertebral Disc ; Sheep* ; Spinal Canal ; Spine* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

The height, width, and cross-sectional area of the vertebral canal and spinal cord along with the area ratio of spinal cord to vertebral canal in the cervical vertebra were evaluated in images obtained using computed tomography (CT). Measurements were taken at the cranial, middle, and caudal point of each cervical vertebra in eight clinically normal small breed dogs (two shih tzu, two miniature schnauzers, and four mixed breed), 10 beagles, and four German shepherds. CT myelography facilitated the delineation of the epidural space, subarachnoid space, and spinal cord except at the caudal portion of the 7th cervical vertebra. The spinal cord had a tendency to have a clear ventral border in the middle portion of the vertebral canal and lateral borders near both end plates. The height, width, and area of the vertebral canal and spinal cord in the cervical vertebra were increased as the size of dog increased. However, the ratio of the spinal cord area to vertebral canal area in the small dogs was higher than that of the larger dogs. Results of the present study could provide basic and quantitative information for CT evaluation of pathologic lesions in the cervical vertebra and spinal cord.
Animals ; Body Size ; Cervical Vertebrae/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Dogs/*anatomy & histology/growth & development ; Reference Values ; Spinal Canal/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Spinal Cord/*anatomy & histology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*veterinary

In order to ascertain the normal values of the mid-sagittal canal diameter and the canal/body ratio of the cervical spine in Korean adults, ninety sets of cervical vertebral columns were examined. The average mid-sagittal canal diameters from C3 through C7 in the normal Korean are 13.2 +/- 1.3 millimeters in male and 13.1 +/- 2.6 millimeters in female. The normal average canal/body ratio of the cervical spine is 0.93 +/- 0.10 in male and 1.02 +/- 0.09 in female. The mid-sagittal canal diameter is largest in the White population and smallest in Asian, but there is no racial differences in the canal/body ratio, and the lower limit of normal canal/body ratio is 0.8 in Korean. The authors conclude that measurement of the canal/body ratio is more reliable than direct measuring of the mid-sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal in the diagnosis of cervical spinal stenosis or predicting the prognosis of cervical spinal cord injury.
Adult ; Aged ; Anthropometry ; Cervical Vertebrae/*anatomy & histology ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Age ; Spinal Canal/*anatomy & histology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PURPOSE: All structures of the spine, including the spinal canal, change continuously with age. The purpose of this study was to determine how the spinal canal of the lumbar spine changes with age. The L4/5 is the most common site of spinal stenosis and has the largest flexion-extension motion, whereas the T5/6 has the least motion. Therefore, we measured the spinal canal diameter and vertebral body height at T5, T6, L4, and L5 with age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of aged 40 to 77 years. We reviewed whole spine sagittal MRIs of 370 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) (Group 2) and 166 herniated cervical disc (HCD) (Group 1). Each group was divided into four age groups, and demographic parameters (age, gender, height, weight, BMI), the mid-spinal canal diameter, and mid-vertebrae height at T5, T6, L4, L5 were compared. Within- and between-group comparisons were made to evaluate changes by age and correlations were carried out to evaluate the relationships between all parameters. RESULTS: Height, weight, and all radiologic parameters were significantly lower in Group 2 than Group 1. Group 1 did not show any differences, when based on age, but in Group 2, height, weight, and T6, L4, and L5 height were significantly decreased in patients in their 70's than patients in their 40's, except for spinal canal diameter. Age was associated with all parameters except spinal canal diameter. CONCLUSION: Vertebral height decreased with age, but spinal canal diameter did not change in patients with either LSS or HCD. Mid-spinal canal diameter was not affected by aging.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cervical Vertebrae/anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*anatomy & histology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal/*anatomy & histology ; Spinal Stenosis/pathology

BACKGROUNDLumbar spinal stenosis is a common problem that is receiving attention with the advent of novel treatment procedures. Prior positional MRI studies demonstrated lumbar canal diameter changes with flexion and extension. There have not been any studies to examine the amount of spinal canal diameter change relative to the amount of angular motion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the lumbar canal diameter change and the angular motion quantitatively.

METHODSPositional MRI (pMRI) images for 491 patients, including 310 males and 181 females (16 years-85 years of age), were obtained with the subjects in sitting flexion 40 degree, upright, and with extension of 10 degrees within a 0.6 T Positional MRI scanner. Quantitative measurements of the canal diameter and segmental angle of each level in the sagittal midline plane were obtained for each position. Then the diameter change and angular motion were examined for correlation during flexion and extension with linear regression analysis.

RESULTSThe lumbar segmental angles were lordotic in all positions except L1-2 in flexion. The changes of canal diameters were statistically correlated with the segmental angular motions during flexion and extension (P < 0.001). The amount of canal diameter change correlated with the amount of angular change and was expressed as a ratio.

CONCLUSIONSPositional MRI demonstrated the amount of spinal canal diameter change that was statistically correlated with the segmental angular motion of the spine during flexion and extension. These results may be used to predict the extent of canal diameter change when interspinous devices or positional changes are used to treat spinal stenosis and the amount of increased canal space may be predicted with the amount of angular or positional change of the spine. This may correlate with symptomatic relief and allow for improved success in the treatment of spinal stenosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Range of Motion, Articular ; physiology ; Spinal Canal ; anatomy & histology ; physiology ; Young Adult