Morphometric Analysis of the lumbar pedicles in Indian population: deciphering the safe zone

Dr.Sneha Rohit Pai; Dr.Anagha Rajeev Joshi; Dr.Ashwini P.Sankhe

Volume : VI, Issue : X, October - 2017

Morphometric Analysis of the lumbar pedicles in Indian population: deciphering the safe zone

Dr. Sneha Rohit Pai, Dr. Anagha Rajeev Joshi, Dr. Ashwini P. Sankhe

Abstract :

Aims: Lumbar pedicle screw fixation is a commonly used technique for various spine pathologies. Screw size and path determination requires accurate morphometric analysis of lumbar pedicles. Since, gender and racial variations in verteal morphometry is known, we performed this study to evaluate pedicle width and height in Indian population. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed pedicle width (PW) and pedicle height (PH) of normal lumbar verteal pedicles in the CT scans of 100 subjects. The results were analysed at different verteal levels and in both genders. Results: We found that the mean pedicle width of lumbar pedicles increased from L1 to L5 verteal levels, maximum mean PW being 15.04 + 0.71 mm (13–16.4 mm) in males and 14.52 + 0.97 mm (12–16 mm) in females at L5. The mean height of lumbar pedicles was maximum at L2 [15.42 + 0.70 mm (14–16.8 mm)] and L1 levels [15.39 + 1.04 mm (13.2–17mm)] in males and females respectively, with decrease in the pedicle height from L3 to L5 verteal levels. Conclusion: Morphometric analysis of lumbar pedicles assumes importance prior to all interventions in lumbar spine since there is significant racial and gender variation in its anatomical parameters