Investigation of lumbal vertebrae morphometry bycomputed tomography

Lumbar region vertebrae can be frequently exposed to trauma and require surgical treatment owing to they are mobile and bear the weight of the body. In recent years, lumbar spine surgery has increased with the contribution of technological developments. It is very important to know vertebral anatomy and morphometry of patients before the surgery in order to decide the most appropriate sized implants for the patients and to prevent complications. In our study, abdominal computed tomography images of 700 adults were evaluated retrospectively. When we evaluated the images, while vertebral body width, vertebral body depth, pedicle length and pedicle width values increased from L1 to L5, disc medius height values increased from disc 1 to 5. In all age groups, these values were higher in males than in females (p<0.05). Anterior body height were observed to increase from L1 to L4 in males and from L1 to L5 in females. Posterior body height was found minimum at L5 in both genders and also maximum at L3 in males and L4 in females. In all age groups, the values of males were measured larger than females (p<0.05). In all age groups, while anterior disc heights were increased toward disc 5, values of males at disc 3, 4 and 5 were measured higher than females (p<0.05). Posterior disc height were measured higher at disc 1, 2, 3 and 4 in males and disc 5 in females (p<0.05). We concluded that our study will contribute to creating an avarage standard for values of lumbar region vertebrae and discs of people in our country and selection of the most appropriate sized implants to persons to be used in spine surgery. Keywords: Lumbar vertebra, Morphometry, Computed tomography, Disc, Pedicle