Turkish Neurosurgery
Morphometric Analysis of Lumbar Disc Space in Turkish Population and Safe Discectomy Distance in Lumbar Disc Surgery
Veysel Antar1, Oguz Baran1, Bilal Kelten2, Ibrahim Burak Atci1, Hakan Yilmaz3, Salim Katar1, Adem Yilmaz4
1Istanbul Research and Training Hospital, Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
2Maltepe University, Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
3Duzce Ataturk State Hospital, Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
4Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Research and Training Hospital, Neurosurgery, Istanbul,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.16871-15.0
Aim:Iatrogenic vascular injury occurring during lomber disc surgery is a rare but serious. In this study, our aim was to review the average safe depth of discectomy for both sexes.Material and Methods:This study involved a total of 56 patients who had no surgical pathology as documented by a lumbar magnetic resonance imaging study. Measurements at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 were performed for both sexes.Results:Measurement 1 at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1, this value was estimated to be 35.9 and 36.7 mm, 35.9 and 36.9, 34 and 34.9 mm in the right and left sides respectively, for female subjects. The corresponding values for males were 41.4 and 42.1, 40.6 and 40.9, 37.4 and 37.7 mm at L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1, respectively. Measurement 3 in L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 disc spaces on the right and left sides in female subjects were 14.8 and 16.3 mm, 15.7 and 17.2 mm, 14.9 and 17.1 mm, respectively, with corresponding figures of 18.6 and 19.5, 19.7 and 20.6, 18.2 and 18.6 mm among male participants. Measurement 2 and 4 in females for L3-4, L4-5, and L5-S1 were 38.4 and 52.3 mm, 38.9 and 53.4 mm, 37 and 51.8 mm, respectively. The corresponding figures for males were 43.2 and 57.6 mm, 43.2 and 58.9 mm, 40.1 and 56.7 mm, respectively. Conclusion:Determination of the safe discectomy depth in both males and females as well as use of marking disc punches to indicate the safe margins may help clinicians avoid this unwanted complication.
Corresponding author : Veysel Antar