Abstract

EXPOSITO RODRIGUEZ, Beatriz  and  SALAS RUBIO, José H.. Mediciones del canal raquídeo lumbar del adulto cubano. Rev Cub Med Mil [online]. 2002, vol.31, n.4. ISSN 0138-6557.

Measurements of the lumbar spinal canal were made in simple radiographic studies of the lumbosacral column in the anteroposterior and lateral view in 200 adults with no antecedents of pain or lumbar affection. The technique recommended by Eisenstein in 1976 to define the posterior edge of the canal was used. The importance of the sagittal diameter as an essential parameter to determine the stenosis of the canal was corroborated. Normal limits are between 14.7 and 21 mm. An inferior limit of the interpedicular distance of 22.6 mm is established. The women's canal is smaller than that of men, whereas the canal of the black persons is lower than that of Caucasians and mestizos in its sagittal diameter. This method is recommended in order to made an early diagnosis of the stenosis of the canal in the lumbar sector.

Keywords : SPINAL STENOSIS [diagnosis]; RADIOGRAPHY [methods]; NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE; MEASUREMENT; METHODS AND THEORIES; ADULT HEALTH.