Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “SPINAL CANAL”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

Multiple meningiomas within the spinal canal: case report with 23 tumors.

In most series of neoplasms of the spinal canal, spinal cord and its leptomeninges, the incidence of meningioma group comprises approximately 25%. The incidence of multiple meningiomas is small when compared with the frequency of its single occurrence. In the majority of cases, their multiplicity is intracranial and spinal. Multiple meningiomas confined exclusively to the spinal canal are extremely rare. We report on a 33 years-old man, with 23 tumors located in the spinal thoracic region.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The relationship of developmental narrowing of the cervical spinal canal to reversible and irreversible injury of the cervical spinal cord in football players.

An evaluation of forty-five athletes who had had an episode of transient neurapraxia of the cervical spinal cord revealed a consistent finding of developmental narrowing of the cervical spinal canal. The purpose of the present epidemiological study was to determine the relationship, if any, between a developmentally narrowed cervical canal and reversible and irreversible injury of the cervical cord with use of various cohorts of football players as well as a large control group. Cohort I comprised college football players who were asymptomatic and had no known history of transient neurapraxia of the cervical cord. Cohort II consisted of professional football players who also were asymptomatic and had no known history of transient neurapraxia of the cervical cord. Cohort III was a group of high-school, college, and professional football players who had had at least one episode of transient neurapraxia of the cervical cord. Cohort IV comprised individuals who were permanently quadriplegic as a result of an injury while playing high-school or college football. Cohort V consisted of a control group of male subjects who were non-athletes and had no history of a major injury of the cervical spine, an episode of transient neurapraxia, or neurological symptoms. The mean and standard deviation of the diameter of the spinal canal, the diameter of the vertebral body, and the ratio of the diameter of the spinal canal to that of the vertebral body were determined for the third through sixth cervical levels on the radiographs for each cohort. In addition, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of a ratio of the diameter of the spinal canal to that of the vertebral body of 0.80 or less was evaluated. The findings of the present study demonstrated that a ratio of 0.80 or less had a high sensitivity (93 per cent) for transient neurapraxia. The findings also support the concept that symptoms may result from a transient reversible deformation of the spinal cord in a developmentally narrowed osseous canal. The low positive predictive value of the ratio (0.2 per cent) however, precludes its use as a screening mechanism for determining the suitability of an athlete for participation in contact sports. Developmental narrowing of the cervical canal in a stable spine does not appear to predispose an individual to permanent catastrophic neurological injury and therefore should not preclude an athlete from participation in contact sports.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Results of surgical treatment for lumbar canal stenosis due to degenerative spondylolisthesis: enlargement of the lumbar spinal canal.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze clinical results and radiographic findings in patients who underwent surgical enlargement of the lumbar spinal canal combined with resection of the posterosuperior margin underneath the slipping vertebral body for the treatment of lumbar canal stenosis due to degenerative spondylolisthesis. A series of 64 patients who were observed for 3 years or more after operation were examined. The mean age at the time of operation was 64.2 years. The follow-up period was 3-17 years. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score increased from 14.9 points before operation to 25.4 points at the time of the study on average. The general improvement rate was 75.6%. The height and range of motion of the enlarged intervertebral disc were mildly to moderately decreased, and it was found there was a small effect on the adjacent intervertebral disc. On computed tomography, the total level of the enlarged region of the posterosuperior margin increased from 184.4 mm(2) to 339.1 mm(2) on average, but the area of the resected region was 163.3 mm(2) and accounted for 48% of the postoperative area of the spinal canal in the posterosuperior margin. This enlargement of the spinal canal was maintained along the dural canal, and physiological morphology was established. By surgically enlarging the lumbar spinal canal combined with resecting the posterosuperior margin underneath the slipping vertebral body, concomitant repositioning or spinal fixation was unnecessary.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

The influence of spinal canal narrowing and timing of decompression on neurologic recovery after spinal cord contusion in a rat model.

STUDY DESIGN: The effect of spinal canal narrowing and the timing of decompression after a spinal cord injury were evaluated using a rat model. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether progressive spinal canal narrowing after a spinal cord injury results in a less favorable neurologic recovery. Additionally, to evaluate the effect of the timing of decompression after spinal cord injury on neurologic recovery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Results in previous studies are contradictory about whether the amount of canal narrowing or the timing of decompression after a spinal cord injury affects the degree of neurologic recovery. METHODS: Forty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into a control group, in which spacers of 20%, 35%, and 50% were placed into the spinal canal after laminectomy, and an injury group in which the spacers were placed after a standardized incomplete spinal cord injury. After spacer removal, neurologic recovery in both was monitored by Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) Locomotor Rating Scale (Ohio State University, Columbus, OH) motor scores and transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials for 6 weeks followed by histologic examination of the spinal cords. Subsequently, 42 rats were divided into five groups in which, after spacer placement, the time until decompression was lengthened 0, 2, 6, 24, and 72 hours. Again, serial BBB motor scores and transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials were used to assess neurologic recovery for 6 weeks until the animals were killed for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: Spacer placement alone in the control animals resulted in no neurologic injury until canal narrowing reached 50%. All of the control groups (spacer only) exhibited significantly better (P < 0.05) motor scores compared with the injury groups (injury followed by spacer insertion). Within the injury groups the motor scores were progressively lower as spacer sizes increased from the no-spacer group to the 35% group. The results in the 35% and 50% groups were not statistically different. The results of the time until decompression demonstrated that the motor scores were consistently better the shorter the duration of spacer placement (P < 0.05) for each of the time groups (0, 2, 6, 24, and 72 hours) over the 6-week recovery period. Histologic analysis showed more severe spinal cord damage as both spinal canal narrowing and the time until decompression increased. CONCLUSION: The results in this study present strong evidence that the prognosis for neurologic recovery is adversely affected by both a higher percentage of canal narrowing and a longer duration of canal narrowing after a spinal cord injury. The tolerance for spinal canal narrowing with a contused cord appears diminished, indicating that an injured spinal cord may benefit from early decompression. Additionally, it appears that the longer the spinal cord compression exists after an incomplete spinal cord injury, the worse the prognosis for neurologic recovery.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The significance of spinal canal dimensions in discriminating symptomatic from asymptomatic disc herniations.

Spinal canal dimensions are assumed to play a significant role with regard to the development of symptoms in individuals with disc herniations. The literature is inconclusive on the significance of spinal canal size as a risk factor for sciatica, mainly because of study design problems. The objective of this study, therefore, was to test the hypothesis that spinal canal dimensions are a significant risk factor for the development of sciatica, comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Thirty symptomatic patients undergoing lumbar discectomy and 45 asymptomatic volunteers were investigated by clinical and MRI examination. The size of the spinal canal and thecal sac as well as the midsagittal spinal canal diameter were measured using a point counting method and scanner software, respectively. Differences between the groups were compared separately for each level L3/4 to L5/S1. The intra- and inter-observer error ranged between 0.95 and 0.99 for all measurements. In symptomatic patients, the dimensions of the spinal canal and thecal sac as well as the midsagittal spinal canal diameter were smaller at all disc levels. Unpaired t-test demonstrated a significant difference, ranging from P<0.05 to P<0.001. When controlled for age, sex and body height, the odds ratio for a symptomatic disc herniation increased to as high as 35, depending on the spinal level, when the size of the spinal canal was smaller than the mean for controls by two standard deviations or more. In symptomatic patients, spinal canal dimensions are significantly smaller than those in asymptomatic individuals. Spinal canal dimension is an important factor discriminating patients from control subjects. A clinically relevant grading system for disc herniation should therefore be based on the spatial relationship between herniated disc material and neurogenic structures.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Diagnosis and treatment of lumbar spinal canal stenosis].

Lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS) was first described in 1954 by Verbiest, followed by the currently accepted international classification of LSCS in 1976 by Arnoldi. Briefly, LSCS is a nervous system syndrome that is characterized by neural symptoms in the lower extremities due to tightened cauda equina and spinal nerve root involvement. LSCS international classification consists of: (1) degenerative, (2) congenital developmental, (3) combined, (4) spondylolytic spondylolisthesis, (5) iatrogenic and (6) post traumatic stenosis. Degenerative stenosis-the most common type of LSCS-is caused by disc degeneration, osteoarthritis of the facet joint and hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum. LSCS may also be the result of intervertebral disc degeneration, protruded intervertebral disc and/or bony spur compress cauda equina and spinal nerve root anteriorally, while degenerated facet joint and hypertrophied the ligamentum flavum compress cauda equina and spinal nerve root posteriorally? Most often, spondylolytic spondylolisthesis occurs at the fourth lumbar vertebrae in middle-aged women. As a result of a slipping forward of the vertebra, cauda equina and spinal nerve roots can be tightened between the edge behind the top of lower vertebra and frontal edge of the lower part of upper lamina. Typical clinical symptoms of LSCS are low back pain, leg pain and intermittent claudication. Low back pain is chronic with secondary radiating pain in the buttock. The leg pain is called "sciatica", which tends to appear on the back of thigh, in the lateral aspect of lower leg and calf muscles, and which intensifies when the patient is fatigued. Intermittent claudication is a symptom associated with this syndrome. Often, patients with LSCS find it impossible to walk because of increased numbness and pain in their leg. Many patients report that after squatting for a few minutes they are able to resume walking. LSCS patients may also report dysaesthesia in the perineum area, and may also report urinary dysfunction ranging from extreme urgency to urinary delay. Patients who present with symptoms of LSCS should be seen by an orthopedic surgeon. Correct diagnosis by imaging and clinical examination, with appropriate conservative or operative treatment in a timely fashion should be encouraged in order to prevent irreversible nerve damage.

Female↗
PubMed1991

The effects of removal of bullet fragments retained in the spinal canal. A collaborative study by the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems.

Serial motor and sensory examinations were conducted on 90 patients with bullet fragments lodged in the spinal canal. Annual follow-up examinations were completed on 66 patients. Despite the fact that approximately 20% of the bullets had perforated the alimentary canal, no cases of infection were noted. Statistical analyses indicated that removal of the bullet fragments made no significant difference with regard to reducing pain or improving the recovery of sensation. However, bullet removal did have an effect on motor recovery, depending on the level at which the lesion occurred. Among those patients with lesions between vertebral levels T12 and L4, there was significantly greater (P less than 0.001) motor recovery in those patients from whom the bullet was removed from than in patients not having bullet removal. Bullet removal from the canal between T1 and T11 had no significant effect on motor recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Extensive intradural arachnoid cyst of the lumbar spinal canal: case report.

BACKGROUND: Spinal intradural arachnoid cysts are rare outpouchings of arachnoid lining occurring mainly in the thoracic and cervical regions. MRI is considered the diagnostic procedure of choice; however, some arachnoid cysts have been reported to elude diagnosis by MRI due to the similar signal intensity of the cyst and the subarachnoid space. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a case of a 41-year-old woman with an intradural arachnoid cyst of the lumbar spinal canal. Diagnostic studies demonstrated a herniated L4-5 disk, which led to two operations. Despite intractable pain postoperatively, the MRI failed to reveal further focal compression of the nerve root. A myelogram suggested compression of the thecal sac by a dorsal mass lesion. The patient underwent a midline durotomy that revealed two large arachnoid cysts with the nerve roots beneath them pushed ventrally and to the right. Removal of the arachnoid layer resulted in complete fenestration of the cyst and allowed the nerve roots to freely float in the spinal fluid. CONCLUSION: In retrospect, the abnormality could be appreciated on multiple prior scans performed at another institution, demonstrating that in the patient with low back pain, degenerative disc disease is not the only diagnosis to consider.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Roentgenological manifestation of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in the cervical spine causing severe spinal canal stenosis--a group comparison with and without marked spinal cord dysfunction].

Relationship between the degree of clinical symptoms and the lateral roentgenograms of the cervical OPLL causing severe spinal canal stenosis was studied among patients whose roentgenological minimum antero-posterior diameters of the available spinal canals were under 9mm. Lateral roentgenograms of 28 clinically mild patients were compared with those of 20 clinically severe patients. The type of ossification, the extent of OPLL, the narrowest level of the available spinal canal, and the minimum a-p diameter were not statistically significant parameters. The degree of canal stenosis at the 1cm cranial and 1cm caudal levels from the narrowest level, and the axial extent of canal stenosis around the narrowest level were less significantly in the group with mild symptoms than in the group with severe symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Transabdominal ultrasound measurement of the lumbar spinal canal. Its value for evaluation of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Lumbar spinal stenosis, most commonly caused by hypertrophic changes in the soft tissues of the spinal canal, is itself a clinical entity, but in the early phase it can also serve as a factor influencing general back disorder morbidity. It can be identified reliably by measuring the anteroposterior diameter of the dural sac on myelography films and/or the transverse area of the dural sac on computed tomography (CT) scans. In the present study, 76 patients with general back disorders were examined with ultrasound (US) transabdominally through the intervertebral disc. In those 50 patients (66%) in which all three of the lowest lumbar intervertebral spaces could be visualized, the measurements made by US differed by +/- 5 mm from those obtained by myelography and +/- 25 mm2 from those made by CT. In a subset of ten patients with spinal stenosis, US was able to demonstrate the small size of the dural sac, but the cause of the stenosis could not be reliably evaluated. In addition to diagnosing central spinal stenosis, ultrasonography is also well suited for screening purposes.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2001

The effect of surgery and remodelling on spinal canal measurements after thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Bone fragments in the spinal canal after thoracolumbar spine injuries causing spinal canal narrowing is a frequent phenomenon. Efforts to remove such fragments are often considered. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of surgery on spinal canal dimensions, as well as the subsequent effect of natural remodelling, previously described by other authors. A base material of 157 patients operated consecutively for unstable thoracolumbar spine fractures at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg during the years 1980-1988 were evaluated, with a minimum of 5-years follow-up. Of these, 115 had suffered burst fractures. Usually the Harrington distraction rod system was employed. Patients underwent computed tomography (CT) preoperatively, postoperatively and at follow-up. From digitized CT scans, cross-sectional area (CSA) and mid-sagittal diameter (MSD) of the spinal canal at the level of injury were determined. The results showed that the preoperative CSA of the spinal canal was reduced to 1.4 cm2 or 49% of normal, after injury. Postoperatively it was widened to 2.0 cm2 or 72% of normal. At the time of follow-up, the CSA had improved further, to 2.6 cm2 or 87%. The extent of widening by surgery depended on the extent of initial narrowing, but not on fragment removal. Remodelling was dependent on the amount of bone left after surgery. The study shows that canal enlargement during surgery is caused by indirect effects when the spine is distracted and put into lordosis. Remodelling will occur if there is residual narrowing. Acute intervention into the spinal canal, as well as subsequent surgery because of residual bone, should be avoided.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1993

Acquired epidermoid tumour in the thoracic spinal canal.

Acquired spinal epidermoid tumours are rare, and probably caused by skin fragments that have been transplanted by trauma or lumbar puncture. They almost always occur in the region of the cauda equina. We present an acquired spinal epidermoid tumour at the T 10 level, with pathological confirmation. A skin fragment had migrated to a site where it developed into a tumour.

Epidermal Cyst↗
PubMed1994

Spinal canal restoration by posterior distraction or anterior decompression in thoracolumbar spinal fractures and its influence on neurological outcome.

Thirty consecutive patients who had suffered unstable fractures and dislocations of the thoracolumbar spine mostly associated with neurologic impairment and bony encroachment on the spinal canal were treated either with Harrington distraction rods combined with sublaminar wires or with the Zielke-VDS device. These patients were subsequently assessed for neurologic outcome, spinal canal clearance, sagittal and coronal spinal deformity correction preoperatively and postoperatively with a minimum follow-up of 26 months. In the follow-up evaluation, the patients who underwent surgery with Harrington rods showed an overall improvement of their neurologic function of 90.9%, whereas all patients who underwent the Zielke operation improved. Preoperatively, positive correlations were found between the level of injury and Frankel grades; the cord lesion tended to demonstrate more severe neurologic deficit when compared with cauda equina ones (P < 0.001). Furthermore, dislocation accompanying the injury resulted in a more severe neurological deficit (P < 0.05). Harrington rods and Zielke device offer sufficient initial correction of the frontal spinal deformity but did not significantly either restore or maintain sagittal plane alignment. The Harrington series showed an overall improvement of the segmental kyphosis of 26% (NS), with a subsequent loss of correction of 7.38% (NS) on the follow-up observation. The Zielke device produced an immediate, much better correction of the segmental posttraumatic kyphosis of 45% (NS), but a loss of correction of 22.9% (NS) was measured in the follow-up evaluation. Correction of the anterior and posterior vertebral height was shown to be better for the Zielke patient group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2002

"Spinolith": case report of a loose body in the spinal canal.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report. A hitherto unreported finding of a bony loose body found lying in the spinal canal causing spinal canal stenosis is presented. SUMMARY OF CLINICAL DETAILS: A 68-year-old, fit man presented with a history of progressive neurologic claudication and neurologic deficit in both his lower limbs. Clinical examination revealed excellent range of movements in his lumbar spine and bilaterally normal straight leg raising. He had no significant pain in his back. Neurologic examination showed affection of L5 and S1 dermatomes and myotomes bilaterally. Magnetic resonance imaging scan showed severe localized lumbar spinal stenosis at L4-L5. In the absence of any obvious pathology on the scan, it was presumed that the stenosis was the result of infolding of the redundant ligamentum flavum. His walking distance and neurologic deficit continued to deteriorate, although sphincters were not involved. He underwent a posterior spinal decompression of L4-L5. On performing the laminectomy an ovoid and well-defined pearly white loose body was discovered lying loose in the spinal canal causing stenosis. Histologically, the loose body consisted of trabecular bone with areas of cartilage. The patient made a speedy recovery after surgery and was back to his previous level of activity within a month. DISCUSSION: Several different types of foreign body have been identified in the spinal canal. However, this case of an autologous loose body in the spinal canal causing symptomatic canal stenosis is unique. Because the authors could not identify the source of this loose body, they have termed it "spinolith."

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Migration of bullet in the spinal canal: a case report.

As the spinal canal expands at T10 level naturally, it has been thought that the migration of a bullet within the spinal canal above this level is prevented and the migration of a bullet may only occur between T10 and S1 level. Here, a very rare case of a bullet traversing the length of the spinal canal is reported.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Two cases of ganglion cysts in the lumbar spinal canal.

Two cases of ganglion cysts in the lumbar spinal canal: MR findings. Ganglion cysts in the spinal canal are rare. To our knowledge, only 12 cases have been reported. In addition, ganglion cysts depicted by MR are extremely rare. We report the MR findings in two cases of ganglion cysts in the lumbar spinal canal. In both cases, the ganglion cysts were slightly higher in intensity than CSF on T2-weighted images. In addition, a thin band of low intensity was depicted around the ganglion in both cases. This finding may help to diagnose ganglion in the spinal canal. On T1-weighted images, the signal intensity of the ganglion was very similar to that of the intervertebral disc in both cases. In summary, although ganglion mimics disc hernia or sequestrated disc on both T2- and T1-weighted images, the possibility of a ganglion should be considered whenever an extradural mass showing high signal intensity surrounded by a thin band of low intensity is identified on T2-weighted images.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Roentgenological study of the lumbar spinal canal shape (author's transl)].

It is very important to understand the accurate spinal canal shape and size to solve the neurological lumbar problems. Using plain X-ray films superior notch distance (SND) on lateral film and interfacetal ratio (IFR), the ratio of the interfacetal distance and the interpedicular distance on A-P view, were measured to determine the criteria for classification of the spinal canal shapes into 4 groups as follows; 1) Trefoil canal: SND up to 4.5 mm, IFR up to 67% 2) Triangular canal: SND up to 4 mm, IFR above 80% 3) Round canal: SND above 6.5 mm 4) Intermediate canal: others. These canal shapes, according to our criteria, were shown to be in good accord with CT-images. The clinical characteristics of these typical spinal canals were also studied. 1) Trefoil canal, which had the narrow spinal canal, shallow lateral recess and long nerve root tunnel, caused the radicular disturbance in 60% and cauda equina disturbance in 68%. 2) Triangular canal, with the wide spinal canal, small lateral recess and long nerve root tunnels, caused the radicular disturbance in 28% and the intermittent claudication in 50%. 3) Round canal, with the wide spinal canal, wide lateral recess and short nerve root tunnel, caused no neurological deficits, namely "safe form". 4) Intermediate canal showed the so-called intermediate form and clinical characteristics between the 3 groups. The flattened triangular canal was one of the most important form, hardly diagnosed by the measurements on plain X-ray film, which was possible only by myelogram on which the sagittal diameter of the dural tube measured less than 12 min. The lumbar spinal canals at the upper levels showed the round canals and shifted to the triangular canals at the lower levels, because of the gradual decrease of SND and increase of IFR. The trefoil canals showed the same IFR at any levels, suggesting the developmental factor and the involvement of aging.

Adolescent↗