Morphometric analysis of the lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs in relation to abdominal aorta: CT-based study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Morphometric analysis of the lumbar vertebrae and intervertebral discs in relation to abdominal aorta: CT-based study Via radiol anat Surg Radiol Anat. 2021 Dec 7. doi: 10.1007/s00276-021-02865-9. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT PURPOSE: Although lumbar discectomy is the most common procedure in spine surgery, reports about anatomical relations between discs and prevertebral vessels are limited. Aim of this research was to investigate morphometric of the lumbar region and the relations between intervertebral discs (IVDs) and abdominal aorta. METHODS: 557 abdominal computed tomography scans were assess ed. For each spinal column level from Th12/L1 down to L4/L5, we investigated: intervertebral disc's and vertebra's height, width, length, and distance from aorta or common iliac artery (CIA). Those arteries were also measured in two dimensions and classified based on location. RESULTS: 54.58% of patients were male. There was a significant difference in arterial-disc distances (ADDs) between genders at the levels: L1/L2 (1.32 ± 1.97 vs. 0.96 ± 1.78 mm; p = 0.0194), L2/L3 (1.97 ± 2.16 vs. 1.15 ± 2.01 mm; p < 0.0001), L3/L4 (2.54 ± 2.78 vs. 1.71 ± 2.61 mm; p = 0.0012), also for both CIAs (left CIA 3.64 ± 3.63 vs. 2.6 ± 3.06 mm; p = 0.0004 and right CIA: 7.96 ± 5.06 vs. 5.8 ± 4.57 mm; p < 0.001)-those ADDs were higher in men at all levels. The length and width of IVD increased alongside with disc level with the maximum at L4/L5. CONCLUSION: Bifurcations of the aorta in most cases occurred at the L4 level. Collected data suggest that at the highest lumbar leve ls, there is a greater possibility to cause injury of the aorta due to its close anatomical relationship with discs. Females have limited, in comparison to males, ADD at L1/L2, L2/L3, and L3/L4 levels what should be taken into consideration during preoperative planning of surgical intervention. PMID:34874459 | DOI:10.1007/s00276-021-02865-9 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.