[An evaluation of cervical spinal canal stenosis--a correlation with cerebrospinal fluid pressure using a...

This study was conducted to determine whether the cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) obtained by the lumbar puncture technique is capable of evaluating the pathological state of the cervical spinal canal stenosis (CSCS). A method was developed in which the CSFP was measured with a small piezoelectric semiconductor in combination with the lumbar puncture technique. The data thus obtained were quantitatively analysed using a personal computer. Using this method, we studied patients with cervical myelopathy due to vertebral canal stenosis. The CSFP wave form obtained by compression of the cervical region was converted into a regression curve using the computer. In order to estimate the vertebral canal stenosis ratio (spinal cord/dural tube) of patients with CSCS by CSFP, multiple regression analysis was performed to obtain a multiple regression with respective parameters as expository variables. Descending curve coefficients (CND, CFD and CED) were found to be useful as parameters estimating the state of CSCS by means of CSFP analysis. On the basis of these parameters, CND, the coefficient of a descending curve obtained at the neutral cervical position, and CED, the coefficient of a descending curve obtained at the extended position, patients with CSCS were able to distinguish from normal subjects. The multiple regression equation (Y = 73.2-3890 CNA-4740 CND + 3620 CFD-10470 CEA-802 CED-0.119 NPP) was statistically significant at P = 0.01, therefore, useful in estimating the vertebral canal stenosis ratio. On the contrary, the values calculated from the multiple regression equation were not well correlated with either the JOA (Japanese Orthopedic Association) scores evaluated in accordance with the JOA Criteria or with the spinal compression ratio (anterior-to-posterior diameter/right-to-left diameter).