[Ultrasound anatomy of the spinal canal of the lumbar spine. Results ofan experimental study and report of initial clinical applications of intraoperative ultrasound in nucleotomies].
Results of an Experimental Study and Report of Intraoperative Application:


OBJECTIVE
Intraoperative sonography has been used in neurosurgery (especially in tumors) and in traumatology (assess reduction of dorsal vertebral body fragments). This study was performed to determine the value of sonography in detecting vertebral disc tissue.


RESULTS
We examined 6 specimens of the Lumbar spine using the extended flavectomy approach. We found that sono-anatomy was reproducible and that the assessable area was large enough to make sonography useful for detection of sequesters. Dislocated vertebral disc tissue could be differentiated clearly from original disc tissue and from other intraspinal structures. In 6 of 8 cases of intraoperative sonography in nucleotomies we were able to evaluate intraspinal and intraforaminal structures. The complete removal of the detected prolapses could be documented. In 2 cases the examination failed because the probe had a too large diameter and could not be pushed down between the spinous processus and the wound distractor to the extended flavectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Sonography allows one to document complete resection of disc herniations. Limitations of the method are due to technical problems.
Küllmer
K
K
Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Orthopädische Klinik.
Eysel
P
P
Rompe
J D
JD
Degreif
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014159:Transducers; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation*