الفهرس 
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Abstract
!:il/MMARY AND CONCLUSION
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Spinal stenosis IS attracting attention as an important structural
changes with significant radiologic and clinical implications. Recognition
and management of problems inheret in this condition require clear
understanding of the diverse anatomical changes and careful correlation
with a wide spectrum of fluctuating clinical manifestations.
Pathological changes in the diameter of the lumbar spinal canal
may be associated with low back pain. The assessment of the size of the
canal IS therefore an important diagnostic procedure. The transverse
diameter as well as the antero-posterior diameter of the canal are a
reliable index for assessment of the size of the vertebral canal. It is
necessary to have base line values of this diameter for use in diagnostic
work. Age, racial, and ethnic variations in the dimensions of the canal
were reported. Published reports have given tables of the norms for
different populations.
This work exhibit the study of the transverse diameter of the
lumbar spinal canal, the antro-posterior diameter and other relevant
dimensions, as; width of vertebral bodies and pedicle thickness in normal
adult Egyptians. The correlation between the transverse as well as AP
diameters and these dimensions have been studied. Also, a study has been
made of these dimensions and the variables of sex, weight, height and
age.
The sample consisted of200 adults, 100 cases are submitted to xray
study and other 100 cases are submitted to CT study. Cases with
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Sl./MMARY AND CONCLUSION
clinical lumbar symptoms were excluded. Measurements were made on
axial CT slice images, AP and lateral plain radiographs of the subjects.
The results revealed that the mean transverse diameter of lumbar
spinal canal increased steadily from Ll to L5 vertebra, being larger in
males at all segmental levels. The minimum transverse diameter was
17.42 mm in males and 17.11 mm in females at Ll level. The maximum
transverse diameter was 51.92 mm in females at L4 level and 43.61mm in
males at L~level by x-ray study measurements.
The AP diameter of the lumbar spinal canal showed a steady
narrowmg from the level of Ll down to L3. This was followed by
widening at L4 and L5. This hour-glass shape of the lateral view of the
canal was preserved in both sexes, but the anteroposterior diameter was
narrower in females than in males.
The normal range of the AP diameter shows that the minimum
value of AP diameter is (13.07 mm) in males and is (13.37 mm) in
females both at L3, and the maximum AP diameter is 21.58 mm in males
at L 1 and 21.04 mm in females at L5.
The results of measurements of the transverse and anteroposterior
diameter (measured by x-ray and CT studies) ofthe lumbar spinal canal
were compared with the results of earlier reporters in different
populations. The comparison confirmed the view that the dimensions of
the lumbar spinal canal were a subject for racial variations.
The mean width of vertebral body increased steadily from Lito L5
in both sexes; and was larger in males than in females at all levels.
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.. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The canal/body ratio in males was nearly 0.6 at L1 to L3, while it
was nearly 0.5 at L4 and L5. In females, the corresponding ratios were
about 0.6 at all segmental at levels. With CT study it was found that the
ratio was Q.6 at all segmental levels regarding males and females. There
was a direct relation between the transverse diameter ofthe canal and the
width of vertebral body.
The mean of the ”sum” of pedicle thicknesses was larger in males
than in females, and there was no direct relation between the pedicle
thickness and the transverse diameter of spinal canal at the corresponding
vertebral levels.
The results of this study could not confirm the view that the
dimensions ofthe lumbar spinal canal vary with age.
MUltiple regression analysis. of both, the transverse and
anteroposterior diameters was performed against the variables: age,
weight, and height.
Thus, the predicted values of the transverse and anteroposterior
diameters of the lumbar spinal canal of an individual could be calculated
from his age, weight, and height.
Comparing the measurements taken by plain x-ray and CT studies
at different segmental levels for different age groups. The comparison
verify that transverse diameter could be measured by plain x-ray as well
as CT, however, AP diameter is more accurately measured by CT.
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