Morphometric Study of the Thoracic Neural Canal in South Indian Population and its Clinical Significances

Ashwini S Shetty; Ramakrishna Avadhani K; Manjula Shantaram

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2017

Morphometric Study of the Thoracic Neural Canal in South Indian Population and its Clinical Significances

Ashwini S Shetty, Ramakrishna Avadhani K, Manjula Shantaram

Abstract :

Objectives

To establish normative data for spinal canal morphometry in thoracic verteae in South Indian population. The size of the spinal canal has attracted increasing interest since Scheslinger, Taveras and Verbiest described some of the effects of narrow canal. However, a few anatomic studies have been performed to determine the criteria and limits of normal serving as guidelines in assessing pathological conditions. Diagnosis of developmental spinal stenosis is based on the measurements of the bony spinal canal.

Material and Methods

The present study comprises of 360 thoracic verteae from 30 thoracic spines. Shape of the neural canal was observed and following parameters were measured: Transverse diameter of neural canal; caudal anteroposterior diameter of neural canal; cephalic anteroposterior (A.P.) diameter of neural canal; transverse diameter of verteal body.

Results

Transverse diameter of neural canal from T1to T12 was measured. It first decreased from T1 toT12. Transverse diameter measured along the narrowest part of the verteal body from T1 to T12. It was decreased from T1 to T4 and then increased to T12. Cephalic anteroposterior diameter of neural canal was increased from 15.36±1.72mm at T1 to18.53±2.25mm at T12 with slight dips at T7 and T9. Caudal anteroposterior diameter of neural canal from T1 to T12 measured, it was increased gradually from T1 to T12 with slight dips at T3, T7 and T9.

Conclusion

Cephalic anteroposterior diameter of neural canal in the present study was less in south Indian population when it is compared with Americans and more when we compared with Negroes. Caudal anteroposterior diameter of neural canal is more at almost all levels in South Indian population when we compared with Italian population. Transverse diameter of neural canal was less in almost all levels when we compared with White American, Nigerian, Swiss, Japanese populations. Transverse diameter of the verteal body was comparable to Caucasians and Negroes. It showed the difference ranging between 3–4 mm.