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Chulalongkorn Medical Journal

Abstract

Background : There is no previous report regarding normal lumbar interspinous distancein Thai subjects. The measurement of the lumbar interspinous distance ismade based on the magnetic resonance imaging images.Objective : To measure the distance of the lumbar interspinous process in Thaisubjects and compare with the size of the currently available interspinousdevice in Thai market.Methods : Sixty healthy subjects (30 males and 30 females) age 20 - 55 years wereenrolled into this study. All of the subjects were underwent the lumbarspine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The interspinous distance wasmeasured at the most midline cut in T2 weighted MRI image by markingthe mid portion of each spinous process from L1 to L5 then theinterspinous distance was measured from lower border of proximalspinous process to upper border of adjacent distal spinous process.The measurement was performed at L1-2, L2-3, L3-4 and L4-5 level,respectively then the results were compared with a size of the interspinousdevice currently available in Thailand.Results : The mean age of subjects is 36.3 years. Total mean distance from allsamples at L1-2 level is 11.8 ± 2.3 (10.0 - 14.1) mm, L2-3 level is 10.9 ±2.4 (8.4 - 14.1) mm, L3-4 level is 10.4 ± 2.3 (9.0 - 14.1) mm and L4-5level is 9.9 + 2.2 (8.0 - 13.0) mm. Mean distance in female at L1-2 levelis 11.1 ± 2.4 (10.0-12.2) mm, L2-3 level is 10.1 ± 1.5 (9.2-11.6) mm, L3-4level is 9.9 ± 1.1 (9.1-10.7) mm and L4-5 level is 9.2 ± 2.1 (8.0-10.1) mm.Mean distance in male at L1-2 level is 12.5 ± 2.1 (10.2 - 14.1) mm, L2-3level is 11.8 ± 3.2 (8.4 - 14.1) mm, L3-4 level is 10.9 ± 3.5 (9.0 - 14.1) mmand L4-5 level is 10.6 ± 2.2 (8.4 - 13.0) mm. The maximum andthe minimum distance from all samples are 14.1 mm and 8 mm respectivelywhich was covered by the range of interspinous device sizes available inThailand market (range 8 -16 mm) .Conclusions : This study demonstrated the interspinous distance in Thai subjects.The results provided the important information regarding the proper sizeof the interspinous device used in Thai individual for surgeon who getinvolved with interspinous device about a proper range of device size tomatching the interspinous distance in Thai population.

Publisher

Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University

First Page

297

Last Page

305

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