CT measurement on a mimic operation of spinal process and vertebral lamina turnover shelf procedure

English Keywords:Spinal process and vertebral lamina  Turnover  Lumbar spinal stenosis  Surgery  CT scan

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objective：To investigate the feasibility and CT measurement of spinal process and vertebral lamina turnover shelf operation for lumbar spinal stenosis.Method：CT images of 50 cases of out-patient with low back pain（excluding spinal deformity，lumbar disc herniation and lumbar spinal stenosis） were transferred into the computer，and spinal process and vertebral lamina turnover shelf operation was performed mimically on computer by using Photoshop software.The height of spinal process and vertebral lamina，the postoperative length of spinal process and a half of vertebral lamina and the area of vertebral canal were measured at L3~L5 level.The preoperative length of inner pedicle margin and the area of vertebral canal on CT scan were measured and compared with the postoperative ones.Result：The height of L3，L4 and L5 spinal process was 24.68±2.81mm，22.44±4.33mm and 19.46±3.69mm respectively，no significant difference was noted between them（P＞0.05）.The length of spinal process and a half of vertebral lamina of L3，L4 and L5 was 34.68±3.91mm，35.44±3.43mm and 34.56±3.76mm respectively，which were more than that of inner pedicle margin（P＜0.05）.The postoperative spinal canal area of L3，L4 and L5 was 516.01±13.75mm２，507.76±12.85mm２ and 508.03±12.12mm２ respectively，which were more than preoperative ones（P＜0.05）.Conclusion：The spinal process vertebral lamina after turnover can cover the defect due to removal of lamina，which can enlarge lumbar canal and can be used as an alternative to conventional laminectomy.