Study of pedicle morphometry of the lumbar vertebrae

Abstract

The growing need of various orthopaedic procedures to vertebral column like posterior spinal instrumentation and transpedicularscrew fixation of the spine demands accurate knowledge of measurements of the various parts of vertebra. Morphometric study of pedicles of spine of lumbar region is thus relevant and critical for proper placement of the transpedicular screw to avoid inadvertent penetration of pedicular wall. The present study was undertaken with the view to study the height and width of pedicles of 90 dry lumbar vertebras. Height of various lumbar pedicles is 14.5, 15.0,15.2, 14.8, and 13.7 (mean of left and right side up to one decimal point) from L1 to L5. It increases from L1 to L3 and then decreases from L4 to L5. Width of various lumbar pedicles is 8.9, 9.8, 10.6, 15.1, and 18.6 (mean of left and right side up to one decimal point) from L1 to L5. The width of lumbar pedicle increases continuously from L1 to L5.