Normative dimensions of lumbar canal and dural sac by computer tomography in Togo

Introduction

The spinal canal is an osteo-disco-ligamentous duct with a meningeal, neurological, vascular, hydrous and fatty content, which occupies the height of the spine, except for the coccyx. This spinal canal can be narrow congenitally or through arthrosic lesions arising from its strong biomechanical involvement [1]. The lumbar canal stenosis causes the suffering of the vessel wall roots of which intermittent claudication is the most characteristic clinical manifestation [2]. The canal constitutional narrowness can be segmental (L2 to L4), and is often bidirectional, both antero posterior and transversal. Information concerning the precise dimensions of the spinal canal are essential to mention the diagnosis of the constitutional narrow canal and for the spine surgery, hence the importance of imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging). Studies about lumbar spinal canal biometrics are rare in sub-Saharan Africa, and the most of those which exist are old and realized through standard X-ray or on sequential scanners. Thus, the normal dimensions used in Africa are those recommended in western countries. We had undertaken this work in order to determine the biometrics of the lumbar canal and the dural sac in Togo, as well as the relations between the lumbar canal and the dural sac, what does not almost exist in the literature.

Material and method

Study population
This study was prospective multicenter study that involved two university hospital centers of Togo (University Hospital of Campus, and University Hospital of Sylvanus Olympio) and has been approved by the ethics committees and institutional review boards.

We recruited the consecutive healthy asymptomatic volunteers from January 2015 to December 2015. The inclusion criteria were as follows: patient was healthy, especially without any low back pain actually or in the prior history; age older than 18 years; and signed letter of informed consent.

Exclusion criteria were any of the following: previous trauma, fracture, or surgery of the spine; previous history of low back pain; history of any kind of neurologic symptoms or sensory or motor deficits of the arms; inflammatory disorders; any other severe illness (with continuous pain or reduction of working ability); tumor or metastases of the lumbar; or pregnancy.

All recruited volunteers had to fill out a questionnaire and were examined by a physician to check for exclusion criteria.

Measurement method
Computed tomography scans were obtained using a General Electric’s CT Scan. Sequential 3-mm continuous axial images were obtained parallel to the upper and lower endplates for each vertebra and were studied from L1 to the upper sacrum.

Antero-posterior (APD1) and inter-pedicular (IPD) diameters of the lumbar spinal canal, as well as the antero-posterior (APD2) and transverse diameters (TD) of the dural sac were measured to determine the normal values of these measurements in the normal Togolese population. Then we assessed the ratio of APD2/APD1 (R1) and TD/IPD (R2).

The images were stored in a computerized system that allowed enhancement, magnification, and rotation and had a measuring tool. To measure the distance between 2 points, a cursor is positioned using the mouse over an initial reference point. The cursor is then moved to the second reference point by dragging the mouse. When the mouse button is released, the distance between the 2 points is displayed in the information box, reflecting a measurement from the CT image and the actual size of the lumbar spinal canal and dural sac in the plane of the slice.

Antéro-posterior diameter of lumbar spinal canal (APD1) was defined as the distance between the posterior border of the vertebra and the lamina posteriorly at the midline (Figure 1).

Interpedicular (IPD) distance was measured at the pedicular level as the distance between the inner borders of both pedicles (Figure 1).

Antéro-posterior diameter of dural sac (APD2) was measured between the anterior border and the posterior border of the dural sac (Figure 2), at the same level as the APD1, in order to assess their ratio (R1).

Transverse diameter of dural sac (TD) was measured between the right and the left border of the dural sac (Figure 2), at the same level as the IPD, in order to assess their ratio (R2).

Statistical analysis
Statistical analysis was performed using the mean, standard deviations, and Chi-square test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Our study was about 500 CT scans of the lumbar. The mean age was 38+/9.34 years. Both sexes were concerned, with 270 (54%) males against 230 (46%) females.

In general, the average APD of the lumbar canal (APD1) was 15.41±0.55mm, with a minimal average of 10.48±0.57mm and a maximal average of 25.00±2.60mm. The highest average was noted in L1 (18.82±2.14mm) and the lowest in L3 (13.47±1.56mm) (Table 1).

In general, the average IPD was 23.27±1.67mm, with a minimal average of 13.68±1.46mm and a maximal average 33.68±1.46mm. We noticed a progressive increase of the average IPD from L1 (21.35±2.46mm) to L5 (26.71±4.45mm) (Table 2).

The average APD of the dural sac (APD2) was 11.66±0.66mm, with a minimal average of 10.7±0.66mm and a maximal average of 12.77±0.66mm. We noticed a progressive decrease of the average APD of the dural sac from L1 (12.77±1.4mm) to L4 (10.7±1.32mm) and an increase in L5 (11.38±1.34mm) (Table 1).

The average TD of the dural sac was 15.55±1.54mm, with a minimal average of 14.03±2.43mm and a maximal average of 17.63±1.82mm. The average TD of the dural sac decreased progressively from L1 (17.63±1.82mm) to L5 (14.03±2.43mm) (Table 2).

The evaluation of the ratio between the APD2 over the APD1 (R1) found general average R1 of 0.80±0.04, with a minimal average R1 of 0.76±0.06 and a maximal average R1 of 0.85±0.07. The R1 decreased progressively from L1 (0.85±0.07) to L5 (0.76±0.06) (Table 2).

The ratio of the TD of the dural sac over the IPD (R2) found an average R2 of 0.69±0.14, with a minimal average of 0.5±0.12 and a maximal average of 0.84±0.08. The R2 decreased progressively from L1 (0.84±0.08) to L5 (0.5±0.12) (Table 2).

The comparison of diameters measurements of the lumbar canal and the dural sac, as well as R1 and R2 ratios (distribution of the p value) between male and female did not show statistically significant difference (Table 3).

Discussion

The lumbar canal constitutional narrowness is one of the causes of sciatica. Its diagnosis is done by measuring the lumbar canal dimensions through imaging. The CT has become the most used X-ray means. It makes possible a precise measurement of canal dimensions and the diagnosis of the canal narrowness [3]. It has been the imaging means used in our study. According to a study from ZHOU et al. [4], the interobserver error would be 5% for the CT.

The APD1 is the main measurement in the evaluation of the canal constitutional narrowness. Our study had found a higher value of the average APD1 in L1 and L2. The lower value was found in L3. The same remark was made by Amonoo-Kuofi et al. [5] in Nigeria, by Tarek Aly et al. [6] in Egypt, and by Lee et al. [7] in Corea. The high APD in L1 and L2 could be explained by the bulge of the conus medullaris at this level. The study of El-Rakhawy et al. [8] in Pakistan found higher values in L4 and L5 and the lowest value in L3. Thus, many studies [5-8] agree on the fact that the smallest measurement of the APD is in L3. Statistically, there was no significant difference of the APD between male and female in our study. The same remark was made by El-Rakhawy et al. [8] in Pakistan. The comparison of the dimensions of our study with those of Amonoo-Kuofi et al. [5] in Nigeria, of Ongolo Zogo et al. [9] in Cameroon, of Tarek et al. [6] in Egypt, and of El Rakhawy et al. [8] in Pakistan and with that of Getroa [10] in Belgium did not find significant difference statistically. But our study found significant difference statistically in APD1 measurements with the study of Lee et al. [7] in Korea. The APD would be similar between the Blacks, the Arabs, and the Whites, and would differ between the Blacks and the Koreans. But according to the study of Eisenstein [11], there would be a difference of the APD of the lumbar canal between the Blacks and the Caucasians of South Africa.

Concerning the IPD, our study showed a progressive increase from L1 to L5. Tarek et al. [6] and Ongolo Zogo et al. [9] found respectively in Egyptians and in Cameroonians similar results. On the other hand, El-Rakhawy et al. [8] noticed an average IPD almost identical at the level of the four first lumbar vertebrae (≈ 24mm) followed by an increase in L5 (28.48mm). The comparison of the IPD between our study and those of Ongolo Zogo et al. [9] in Cameroon, of Amonoo-Kuofi et al. [12] in Nigeria, of Tarek et al. [6] in Egypt, of El-Rakhawy M et al. [8] in Pakistan did not show any significant difference statistically. But on the other hand, the studies of Postachini et al. [13] and of Piera et al. [14] showed that the IPD would be different across populations. The IPD of Egyptians would be different from that of Saudis and Americans. The IPD of Egyptians is larger than that of Nigerians and South Africans and smaller than that of Spaniards. Our study did not statistically found significant difference of the IPDs of the lumbar canal between male and female. This is similar to the study of El-Rakhawy et al. [8].

We evaluated in our study the antero-posterior diameter of the dural sac (APD2), with a decrease from L1 to L4, and increase in L5. Few studies evaluated the APD of the dural sac. The study of Getroa [10] performed the measurements at the disc level, and found a progressive decrease from L1-L2 to L5-S1.The comparison of dimensions of our study with those of Getroa [10] did not find statistically significant difference. Statistically, there was no significant difference of the APDs of the dural sac between male and female.

The study of the transverse diameter of the dural sac (TD) in our study found a progressive decrease from L1 to L5. The studies that evaluated in the literature the TD of the dural sac are rare.

All in all, the canal narrowness would be associated with the relations between the lumbar canal and the dural sac, whether in the antero posterior plan or the transverse one. Our study thus evaluated these relations. In the antero posterior plan, the ratio (R1) varied between 0.76 and 0.85 and in the transverse plan, the ratio (R2) varied between 0.5 and 0.84. These two ratios decreased progressively from L1 to L5. The studies that evaluated the relations between the dural sac and the lumbar canal are very few. However the narrow lumbar canal would result from the fact that the size of the dural sac is inadequate to that of the lumbar canal. According to the studies of Geisser et al. [15], in normal conditions, there is an empty space between the lumbar canal and its content, enabling free movement of the content, without tension or pressure during movement of the lumbar spine. An abnormal reduction of this empty space between the lumbar canal and its content would be the cause of the nervous suffering.

Conclusion

Dimensions of the lumbar canal and the dural sac in Togo are similar to those described in Arab and Western countries. The lower APD of the lumbar canal would be in L3. The IPD of the lumbar canal, the APD and TD of the dural sac would progressively decrease from L1 to L5.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contributions

Publication history

Senior Editor: Domenico Rubello, Santa Maria della Misericordia
Hospital, Italy.
Received: 27-Jun-2017 Final Revised: 31-Jul-2017
Accepted: 07-Aug-2017 Published: 23-Aug-2017