Measurement of Spinal Canal Diameter for Sudanese Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

This study was done to determine the normal Antero-posterior diameter of the spinal canal in lumbosacral region (all lumbar and first sacral level) among the adult Sudanese population using the MRI and to determine whether there are any differences related to age, weightand gender regarding this diameter. The study was retrospective descriptive cross-sectional analytical study. MRI examinations were performed in Modern Medical Center for 200 normal Sudanese subjects to study the lumbosacral region. The data was collected through check list, analyzed by SPSS. The majority of the participants were male (49.50%), young between 29and 37 years of age and mean weight 65 kilogram. The results showed that the longest mean AP diameter was at L1 (17.4±2.0mm) in male while (17.9±2.7) in female. The shortest mean AP diameter was at S1 (15.9±3.3mm) in male and (15.5±3.1) in female. The AP diameter gradually decreased from L1 to S1.The equation of AP diameter with age is described in (y=0.02106x+18.155) for ages 20-28,(y=0.4391x+18.155) for ages 29-37 and (y=0.3686x+16.977) for ages 38-45. There is no significant difference between both gender. There is association between age and weight and the AP canal diameter.