title: Positional alterations of the Kambin's triangle and foraminal areas in the lumbosacral region.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this anatomical study was to compare the effects of the prone and lateral decubitus positions in endoscopic disc surgery on the Kambin's triangle (KT) and neural foramina zones in the lumbosacral region.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 32 healthy volunteers (16 females and 16 males). Bilateral KT areas (KTA) and neural foraminal areas (FA) of the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels in the prone and lateral decubitus positions were calculated depending on the freehand region of interest measurements on magnetic resonance images. KTA and FA values for each side and level in the prone and lateral decubitus positions were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean left KTA value in the prone and right lateral decubitus positions was 0.58 cm(2) and 0.69 cm(2), respectively, for L4-L5; and 0.69 cm(2) and 0.78 cm(2), respectively, for L5-S1 levels. Mean right KTA values in the prone and left lateral decubitus positions were 0.54 cm(2) and 0.65 cm(2) for L4-L5; and 0.69 cm(2) and 0.81 cm(2) for L5-S1, respectively. The differences in the KTA between prone and lateral decubitus positions for both levels and both sides were statistically significant (p=0.05). Only the difference in the FA between the prone and lateral decubitus positions at L5-S1 level on the right side was statistically significant (p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The KTA is wider in the lateral decubitus position than in the prone position at the levels of L4-L5 and L5-S1.
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey. huseyinbotanlioglu@gmail.com.
authors: Hüseyin
authors: H
authors: Botanlıoğlu
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Önder
authors: Ö
authors: Aydıngöz
authors: Department of Radiology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Kantarcı
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Gökhan
authors: G
authors: Kaynak
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Fatih
authors: MF
authors: Güven
authors: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors: Sema
authors: S
authors: Ertan
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D056888:Patient Positioning; D016684:Prone Position; D012447:Sacrum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016683:Supine Position