Lumbar Morphometry: A Study of Lumbar Vertebrae from a Pakistani Population Using Computed Tomography Scans

Abstract

Study DesignA cross-sectional study.PurposeTo describe the characteristics of lumbar vertebrae of Pakistani patients reporting at a tertiary care hospital and compare with studies from other populations.Overview of LiteratureSeveral studies have been conducted to determine morphometry of lumbar vertebrae. Most of the studies involve Caucasian populations, still data on other populations still sparse. This is the first study describing lumbar morphometry of a Pakistani population.MethodsAn observational study was conducted based on a review of thin-cut (3 mm) computed topographic images of lumbar vertebrae. Two-hundred and twenty vertebrae from forty-nine patients were studied, and various dimensions were analyzed.ResultsGenerally, the size of the vertebrae, vertebral canals and recesses were found to be greater in male patients. The difference was statistically significant for transverse and anteroposterior diameters of the vertebral bodies and sagittal diameter of pedicles on the left side (p<0.05). Comparison of populations revealed statistically significant differences in pedicle dimensions between Pakistani population and others.ConclusionsThis study provides anatomical knowledge of the lumbar region in a sample population of Pakistan. There were significant differences in various dimensions of lumbar vertebrae between female and male patients. This would prove to be critical for performing a safe operation.

Morphometric analysis of the lumbar vertebrae in the Turkish population using three-dimensional computed tomography: correlation with sex, age, and height

“…A study of the Chinese population found that VPD was higher than TPD, at all levels, with a direct increase identified from L1 to L5, contrary to the other studies [7,11]. A study evaluating 49 cases with 3D-CT in the Pakistani population found it was higher than TPD at all lumbar levels, and there was a reduction toward L5, while it was higher in males than in females [2]. The American population study of 503 cadavers found a direct reduction from L1 to L5, with higher values for males at all levels [13].…”

“…Another study identified differences according to sex only at L3 and L5 levels [8]. A study assessing 49 cases with 3D-CT in the Pakistani population found that males had higher values than females at all lumbar levels [2]. A cadaver study evaluating a total of 75 cases by CT without sex differentiation in Egypt found TPD values were 6.8 ± ± 1.9 mm at L1 and 18.9 ± 2.1 at L5, with a direct increase observed from L1 to L5 [10].…”

“…The CT study of 50 cases from the Indian population without reference to sex found TPA was 10.90 ± 3.13 at L1 and 24.75 ± 3.83 at L5, similar to western populations [4]. The study evaluating 49 Pakistani cases with 3D-CT at all lumbar levels found L1 was 13.4, and L5 was 21.6 degrees, with an increase identified toward L5 [2]. The Egyptian CT and cadaver study of 75 cases without reference to sex found TPA values were 15 ± 2.7 at L1 and 30 ± 3.6 degrees at L5, with a direct increase from L1 to L5 [10].…”

“…A CT study related to TPA in western populations did not find a statistical difference between the sexes but did find a direct increase from L2 to L5 [2]. A study using CT and X-rays without referencing sex measured TPA as L1: 10.9, L2: 12.0, L3: 14.4, L4: 17.7, and L5: 29.8 degrees [6].…”

“…With the routine use of three dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) in recent years, morphometric analysis studies assessing differences in lumbar vertebrae according to age and sex have been performed for different populations [2,5,10].…”