Pedicle Morphometry Variations in Individuals with Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Anatomy

Background:

• Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (DLSS) is a common condition affecting the spine.
• Understanding anatomical variations like pedicle dimensions is crucial for diagnosing and managing DLSS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare lumbar pedicle dimensions between patients with DLSS and the general population.
• To investigate the influence of gender, age, and BMI on these dimensions in both groups.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5) using CT scans.
• Inclusion of 165 DLSS patients and 180 controls.
• Statistical comparison of pedicle width and height between groups.

Main Results:

• DLSS patients exhibited significantly wider pedicles than controls across all lumbar levels (P < 0.05).
• Females with DLSS had smaller pedicle heights at L4 and L5 compared to controls (P < 0.001).
• Males consistently showed larger pedicles than females (P < 0.001); age and BMI were not significant factors.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with DLSS possess larger pedicle widths compared to the general population.
• Pedicle dimensions are significantly influenced by gender but not by age or BMI in the context of DLSS.