Morphometric Study of Lumbar Vertebral Pedicles by Using Computed Tomography among Adults in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Context: 

Precise anatomical knowledge of lumbar pedicle dimensions is necessary to make a clinical diagnosis of lower back pain, and any structural deviation of the pedicles may result in interference with the weight transmission mechanism and compression of neural structures.

Aim: 

To evaluate the morphometric dimensions of lumbar vertebral pedicles among normal adults in Kano by using computerized tomography scan images.

Materials and Method: 

This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study that was conducted in the radiology department of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). This study was conducted over 1 year and included 110 adults aged 18–75 years involving both sexes in Kano, using their CT scan images from L1 to L5, following IRB ethics approval. Each vertebral pedicle was measured in transverse and sagittal planes. The measurements included the pedicle width (PW), sagittal pedicle height (SPH), and the pedicle chord length (PCL) of individual pedicles. The mean and standard deviations for each measurement parameter were determined, and parametric correlation tests were performed to determine the relationships between age, sex, and ethnicity.

Statistical Analysis Used: 

Data analysis was performed using the statistical software package IBM SPSS Statistics version-23 for Windows. The significance level was considered at P < 0.05.

Results: 

Mean PW size increased craniocaudally along the lumbar spine from L1 (7.49 ± 1.52 mm) to L5 (14.31 ± 1.93 mm). A gradual decrease in mean SPH sizes from L1 (14.53 ± 1.32 mm) to L5 (11.73 ± 1.38 mm) was noted, while mean PCL showed an irregular “U” pattern, with the smallest size at L4 (44.63 ± 3.42 mm) and highest at L2 (46.80 ± 3.85 mm). All measured dimensions were significantly higher in the right pedicles and among male subjects (P < 0.05). Age and ethnicity did not consistently affect pedicle dimensions (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: 

This study observed right pedicle dimensions and male subjects as having significantly larger pedicle diameters, with age and ethnicity not having a significant effect on pedicle sizes across all vertebral levels.