title: Analysis of the spinal nerve roots in relation to the adjacent vertebral bodies with respect to a posterolateral vertebral body replacement procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to improve the understanding of the anatomic variations along the thoracic and lumbar spine encountered during an all-posterior vertebrectomy, and reconstruction procedure. This information will help improve our understanding of human spine anatomy and will allow better planning for a vertebral body replacement (VBR) through either a transpedicular or costotransversectomy approach.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The major challenge to a total posterior approach vertebrectomy and VBR in the thoracolumbar spine lies in the preservation of important neural structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective analysis. Hundred normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spinal studies (T1-L5) on sagittal T2-weighted MRI images were studied to quantify: (1) mid-sagittal vertebral body (VB) dimensions (anterior, midline, and posterior VB height), (2) midline VB and associated intervertebral discs height, (3) mean distance between adjacent spinal nerve roots (DNN) and mean distance between the inferior endplate of the superior vertebrae to its respective spinal nerve root (DNE), and (4) posterior approach expansion ratio (PAER).
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The mean anterior VB height gradually increased craniocaudally from T1 to L5. The mean midline and posterior VB height showed a similar pattern up to L2. Mean posterior VB height was larger than the mean anterior VB height from T1 to L2, consistent with anterior wedging, and then measured less than the mean anterior VB height, indicating posterior wedging. (2) Midline VB and intervertebral disc height gradually increased from T1 to L4. (3) DNN and DNE were similar, whereby they gradually increased from T1 to L3. (5) Mean PAER varied between 1.69 (T12) and 2.27 (L5) depending on anatomic level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dimensions of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae and discs vary greatly. Thus, any attempt at carrying out a VBR from a posterior approach should take into account the specifications at each spinal level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Waleed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Awwad
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourget-Murray
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Nadil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zeiadin
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mejia
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Steffen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Algarni
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alsaleh
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouellet
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Orthopedic Research Laboratory, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Jarzem
keywords: Expandable cage; magnetic resonance imaging; posterior approach expansion ratio; thoracolumbar spine; vertebral body replacement; vertebroplasty