A CT-based radiographic analysis of parameters of congenital lumbar neuroforaminal stenosis

Quantitative parameters for the diagnosis of congenital lumbar stenosis (CLS) have yet to be universally accepted. This study establishes parameters for congenital stenosis of lumbar neuroforaminal dimensions (LNFD) using computed tomography (CT), assessing the influences of patient sex, race, and ethnicity.

Measurements of LNFD were performed on CT scans from 1,000 patients aged 18-35 years without spinal pathology.

Irrespective of vertebral level, mean anatomic LNFD measurements were as follows: 8.66±2.1 and 8.76±3.14 mm for left and right widths, 17.76±2.74 and 17.7±3.26 mm for left and right heights, and 133.12±34.72 and 133.4±33.86 mm² for left and right areas. Threshold values for neuroforaminal stenosis, regardless of vertebral level, were: 4.46 and 2.48 mm for left and right foraminal widths, 12.28 and 11.18 mm for left and right foraminal heights, and 63.68 and 65.68 mm² for left and right foraminal areas. Patient sex, race, and ethnicity highlighted significant findings per vertebral level, but not when considered irrespective of vertebral level.

This study reports measurements of LNFD via CT of 1,000 patients to establish quantitative thresholds for diagnosis of neuroforaminal stenosis. Patient sex, race, and ethnicity highlighted significant findings per vertebral level, but not irrespective of vertebral level. These findings may help solidify anatomic thresholds of foraminal stenosis via radiographic imaging and establish the foundation for future research on the diagnosis of lumbar neuroforaminal stenosis.