Abstract

Objectives The use of technologies for the treatment of degenerative spinal diseases has undergone rapid clinical and scientific development. It has been extensively studied in combination with various techniques for spinal stabilization from both anterior and posterior approach. Anterior access to the L1-L5 disc space can be technically challenging, frequently requiring the use of an approach surgeon for adequate exposure. For a successful surgery and a suitable instrumental design via screw, adequate morphometric knowledge about body of lumbar vertebra and standardized volumetric data is also required. There are some reports about the relationships between the surgical manifestations and the vertebral body morphology in patients with degenerative spinal disease, traumatic and non-traumatic fractures and vertebral malignities. Delineating the normal lumbar vertebra volume and its neurosurgical importance interested in both the anatomists and the spinal surgeons. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the lumbar vertebra using a stereological technique. Determine the morphometric measurements of the bodies depending on gender. Materials and methods Randomly selected individuals (11 males, 10 females) aged between 25– 85 years who have normal lumbar MR and CT were enclosed in the study. Volumetric lumbar vertebras were evaluated via stereological method on the magnetic resonance (MR) images of healthy subjects. We evaluated volumetric measurements of the body of lumbar vertebrae using a CT scan and MR via stereological technique. The shape and volumetry of the L1-L5 vertebra, vertebral body length, vertebral body width, and also height were analyzed selected axial and sagittal slices that passed through the upper part of the body of all lumbar vertebras and another one that passed through the lower part of them with comparing each other. The data set were analyzed by two factor repeated measure analysis. Results The lumbar vertebra volumes were evaluated comparing with each other according to gender. Bodies of vertebra measurements were evaluated. Conclusions The stereological evaluation of lumbar vertebral analysis in humans correlate with gender is of importance for both clinicians and anatomists. The stereological volume analysis technique is simple, reliable, unbiased and inexpensive. Further studies are needed with larger samples in order to support the data.