Antenatal factors in the development of the lumbar vertebral canal: a magnetic resonance imaging study
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Spinal Cord Compression
Published on: May 7, 2019
Janet E Jeffrey1, Doris M Campbell, Michael H N Golden
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Aberdeen, UK. j.e.jeffrey@abdn.ac.uk
Insights
Low birthweight and maternal smoking significantly reduce lumbar vertebral canal size in children. Good antenatal care and maternal education are crucial for preventing potential spinal stenosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Developmental Biology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- The lumbar vertebral canal undergoes rapid growth in utero (12-32 weeks).
- Canal dimensions at birth are substantial, but antenatal factors can influence final size.
- Adverse conditions during critical fetal development may impact vertebral canal dimensions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify obstetric factors influencing lumbar vertebral canal size in children.
- To investigate the relationship between antenatal conditions and spinal canal development.
- To determine if birth weight and maternal behaviors affect lumbar vertebral canal dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure lumbar vertebral canal dimensions in two cohorts of 10-year-old children (n=161).
- Measurements included midsagittal diameter and cross-sectional area at L1-L5.
- Obstetric records and neonatal data were analyzed for correlations with canal size.
Main Results:
- Low birthweight, influenced by intrauterine growth retardation, significantly reduced canal size.
- Low placental weight and lower socioeconomic status were also associated with smaller canal dimensions.
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy was linked to reduced canal perimeter and cross-sectional area at L3 and L5.
Conclusions:
- Low birthweight and maternal smoking are significant adverse factors affecting lumbar vertebral canal size.
- These findings highlight the importance of optimal antenatal care and maternal health education.
- Interventions aimed at improving prenatal conditions may reduce the risk of adult spinal stenosis.
Study Design:
The lumbar vertebral canal was measured in two cohorts of 10-year-old children (n = 161) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and compared with obstetric records.
Objective:
To investigate whether there are identifiable obstetric factors that determine the size of the lumbar vertebral canal.
Summary Of Background Data:
The most rapid period growth for the lumbar vertebral canal is between 12 and 32 weeks in utero, with the midsagittal diameter of L1-L4 already 70% of adult dimension at birth. Therefore, adverse antenatal factors during this critical growth period may be expected to affect the size of the canal.
Methods:
The canal size was measured from axial MRI sections taken through each lumbar vertebra (L1-L5) at the pedicular level of 84 children. Relations with obstetric data, prospectively collected in a neonatal database, were sought. The relation of low birthweight and canal size was further investigated in a second cohort of children (n = 77).
Results:
The canal size, particularly the midsagittal diameter and the cross-sectional area, was found to be significantly reduced by low birthweight (with growth retardation in utero being a more important factor than length of gestation), low placenta weight, and lower socioeconomic class. Smoking during pregnancy significantly reduced the perimeter at L3 (P = 0.032) and L5 (P = 0.031), and also the cross-sectional area at L3 (P = 0.030) and L5 (P = 0.016).
Conclusions:
This study showed that, for this group of children, the size of the lumbar vertebral canal was reduced by low birthweight, with maternal smoking as an added adverse factor. Therefore, good antenatal care and maternal education may help to reduce the risk of spinal stenosis in adult life.
