Dimensions of the lumbar intervertebral foramina as determined from the sagittal plane magnetic resonance imaging scans of 95 normal subjects.
OBJECTIVE
This was a 2-part study. Part 1 evaluated the reliability of measurements of the intervertebral foramina (IVF) from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and part 2 developed a morphometric database of IVF dimensions from normal living subjects.


METHODS
Part 1 was a blinded reliability study using 7 observers, and part 2 developed a morphometric database using 2 teams of 3 observers, all blinded to the results of each other.


METHODS
Ninety-five normal subjects (46 women, 49 men) were stratified by age (range 14-84 years, average 38.8 years).


METHODS
Part 1: Interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated for intraobserver and interobserver reliability for 3 dimensions of the lumbar IVFs. Part 2: A database was developed using the same measures. In addition, the relationships between IVF dimensions and age, height, weight, sex, and left versus right sides of subjects were evaluated.


RESULTS
Part 1: All ICCs were very high (> 0.94). Part 2: 8550 measurements were made, and a morphometric database of 95 subjects, stratified by age and sex, was completed. Differences in IVF size associated with age, height, weight, sex, and side were described.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurements taken from MRI scans of IVFs were performed reliably. The morphometric database and IVF relationships should aid clinicians and researchers in evaluating patients with suspected foraminal stenosis and help further investigate IVF pathology and treatment of such pathology.
Cramer
Gregory D
GD
Department of Research, National University of Health Sciences, 200 E. Roosevelt Road, Lombard, IL 60148, USA. gcramer@nuhs.edu
Cantu
Joe A
JA
Dorsett
Richard D
RD
Greenstein
Jay S
JS
McGregor
Marion
M
Howe
Joseph E
JE
Glenn
William V
WV
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013115:Spinal Canal / Q000033:anatomy & histology