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Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Evaluation of Patients' Posture and Gait Profile After Lumbar Fusion Surgery by Video Rasterstereography and Treadmill Gait Analysis
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Generational Changes in Lumbar Spinal Canal Dimensions: Findings from a Sample U.S. Population.

Matthew K Tobin1, Cristian Gragnaniello1, Jack Horwitz1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

World Neurosurgery
|November 19, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Older generations born in the 1940s exhibit larger lumbar canal dimensions (cross-sectional area and anterior-posterior diameter) compared to younger individuals. This study highlights ethnic variations and a concerning trend of reduced spinal canal growth in recent generations.

Keywords:
Cervical spinePosterior spinal fusionSpinal instrumentationSpine surgerySurgical approachSurgical outcomeThoracic spine

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Area of Science:

  • Spinal Anatomy
  • Radiology
  • Population Health

Background:

  • Lumbar canal dimensions are critical for spinal health.
  • Understanding variations in these dimensions is essential for diagnosing and treating spinal conditions.
  • Previous studies have not extensively explored generational differences in lumbar canal size within diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate and compare lumbar bony canal dimensions between two distinct birth cohorts in Chicago.
  • To investigate potential ethnic variations in lumbar canal size.
  • To identify factors influencing spinal canal dimensions across generations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of computed tomography (CT) reconstructions.
  • Measurement of lumbar bony canal cross-sectional area (CSA) and anterior-posterior diameter (APD) at each lumbar level.
  • Comparison of dimensions between patients born in the 1940s and 1970s, stratified by ethnicity.

Main Results:

  • Older patients (born 1940s) demonstrated significantly larger lumbar canal CSA and APD compared to younger patients (born 1970s) at all levels.
  • Significant differences in CSA and APD were observed across Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, and African American ethnicities.
  • No significant differences in canal dimensions were associated with smoking, steroid use, osteoporosis, or cancer history.

Conclusions:

  • Lumbar canal dimensions are larger in individuals born in the 1940s compared to those born in the 1970s, consistent with European cohort findings.
  • Significant ethnic variations in spinal canal dimensions underscore the need for population-specific anatomical data.
  • A potential negative influence on spinal canal growth in younger generations warrants further investigation and highlights the importance of non-modifiable factors in spinal health.