Comparison of radiologic signs and clinical symptoms of spinal stenosis.
METHODS
Clinical findings of spinal stenosis were compared to graded radiologic findings of dural sac narrowing.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the changes of the dural sac area of the lumbar spine on computerized tomography (CT) performed without and with axial loading, and study the correlations between the radiologic findings and clinical symptoms suggestive of spinal stenosis.


BACKGROUND
Although several studies have been performed regarding the advantage of an external compression device in lumbar CT, to our knowledge, none of these studies have correlated radiologic findings with clinical symptoms.


METHODS
The cross-sectional areas of the dural sac at the 3 lowest lumbar intravenous spaces, measured by CT both without and with external compression, were correlated to the clinical symptoms suggestive of spinal stenosis in 117 patients and 351 intervertebral levels.


RESULTS
No statistically significant correlation between the severity of the clinical symptoms of spinal stenosis and dural cross-sectional areas was found. Neither did the use of an external compression device improve the correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although an external compression simulates the dynamic condition in the back during standing position, it does not eliminate the need to compare the radiologic findings with the clinical symptoms of patients examined because of a suspected narrowing of the spinal canal.
Lohman
C Martina
CM
Department of Radiology, ORTON Orthopaedic Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. martina.lohman@fimnet.fi
Tallroth
Kaj
K
Kettunen
Jyrki A
JA
Lindgren
Karl-August
KA
D004388:Dura Mater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016474:Weight-Bearing