Reddy M. M, Gangavelli R, Priyanka P, Saikiran P. Influence of Lumbar Spinal Canal Dimensions on Neurological Claudication Symptomatology- A Case Control Study. Biomed Pharmacol J 2021;14(2).

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Manuscript received on :18-Feb-2021
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Published online on: 05-07-2021

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Monika Reddy¹, Dr Ranganath Gangavelli², Priyanka¹ and Dr P Saikiran^1*

¹Department of Medical Imaging Technology, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

²Department of Physiotherapy, Manipal College of Health Professions, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

Corresponding Author E-mail : saikiran.p@manipal.edu

DOI : https://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bpj/2203

Abstract

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is abnormal narrowing of spinal canal of lumbar vertebrae causing compression of neural tissue which leads to a neurologic deficit. LSS is diagnosed based on clinical symptoms of patient and it is confirmed using MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The aim of the study is to determine the association between MRI lumbar spinal canal and foraminal dimensions in on neurological claudication symptomology. A total of 89 patients (45 males ,44 females, age range: 20-60 years) referred for MRI Lumbar spine were included in this prospective study. Patients were categorized into symptomatic (49 cases) and asymptomatic (40 controls) based on Edinburgh claudication questionnaire (ECQ). The Antero-posterior diameter of dural sac, Transverse diameter of dural sac, Cross sectional area of dural sac, Cross sectional area of lateral recess, Lateral recess depth, Angle of lateral recess, Ligamentous interfacet distance was measured from L3 to S1 on Axial T2 weighted MRI images. The strength of association between MRI measurements and clinical symptoms were assessed using logistic regression analysis and Cramer’s V test. The Phi coefficient value  for the lumbar spinal canal, foraminal dimensions with neurogenic claudication symptomology based on ECQ was 0.108 & 0.207 respectively, which showed weak positive correlation. Our study concludes that MRI measurements of lumbar spinal canal and foraminal dimensions denoting LSS were found to show weak positive correlation with clinical symptoms assessed based on Edinburgh claudication questionnaire.

Keywords

Forminal Stenosis; Lumbar Spinal Stenosis; Lumbar Spine; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neurogenic Claudication

Introduction

Spinal canal in each vertebrae allows the passage of spinal cord. Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal of lumbar vertebrae causing compression of neural tissue which leads to a neurologic deficit. stenosis is divided into two types central and lateral. Central stenosis is caused by the compression of Dural sac whereas lateral stenosis is caused by compression of nerve root in lateral recess in neural foramen. LSS is caused due to congenital, degenerative or combination of both. It will also be caused due to thickening of ligaments and bulging of discs. Spinal stenosis more often in women than in men.^1-5 Neurogenic claudication is a common symptom of LSS which causes impingement or inflammation of nerves arising from the spinal cord. In some cases, it is precipitated by walking or prolonged standing which can be relieved by sitting and get worse while lumbar extension. ^6,7

LSS is diagnosed based on the clinical symptoms of the patient and it is confirmed using MRI. The antero-posterior diameter of spinal canal measuring 12 mm on MRI considered as ‘relative stenosis’ where less than 10 mm is the ‘absolute or definitive stenosis’.  However, recent studies have stated that patients with symptoms of LSS have normal canal diameter and require correlation with clinical symptoms for improving the diagnosis of LSS. ^8-14 Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the association between lumbar spinal canal and forminal dimensions on neurological claudication symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Materials and Methods

The current study was case control cross sectional prospective study conducted in Department of Radio diagnosis and Imaging on patients who were referred for MRI Lumbar spine. The study approval was obtained from Institutional Research Committee and Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC: 65/2018), CTRI/2019/07/020192.

A total of 89 patients with age ranging from 20 to 60 years were included in the study. The patients were divided into cases and controls based on Edinburgh claudication questionnaire (ECQ). The cases were symptomatic patients having symptoms of neurogenic claudication and the controls were asymptomatic patients without symptoms of neurogenic claudication. Patients with surgical history of spine, diagnosed spinal anomalies, scoliosis, history of spinal trauma, and pott’s spine were excluded from the study. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients in English and local language.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measurements

MRI Lumbar spine was performed on 1.5 Tesla (Signa HDxt 1.5 T, GE Healthcare). Standard protocol included Sagittal T2, T1, Short Tau Inversion Recovery (STIR) and Axial T1, T2 images.

The axial T2 images were transferred to Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) Monitor. All measurements were done from on Axial T2 weighted images at the disc level from L3-S1 Vertebrae using measurement tools. The linear measurements were noted in millimeters (mm), angle in degrees, and area is measured in millimeter square (mm²).

The Following MRI Measurements were Done on Axial T2 Images

Antero-posterior diameter of dural sac was measured as distance between centre of vertebral body and middle of spinous process at the dural sac border. Transverse diameter of dural sac was measured as the distance between the lateral end of dural sac at lateral recess. Ligamentous intrafacet distance was measured as distance between the inner part of ligament joining space of facet joints. Lateral recess depth was measured as distance between superior process and pedicle upper part. Lateral recess angle was measured as the angle between the lines passing parallel through the upper and lower end of lateral recess [Figure 1]. Cross sectional area of dural sac and right and left lateral canals were measured on Axial images as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1: Axial T2 Weighted MRI Image Showing Linear Measurements. Click here to view figure

Figure 2: Axial T2 Weighted MRI Image Showing Spinal Canal Area Measurement. Click here to view Figure

The measurements were taken by two readers who were blinded to the symptoms and measured at different time periods. All the measurements taken were compared with the gold standard cutoff values to determine status of stenosis at each level of spine and categorized as stenotic and non-stenotic patients (Table 1).

Table 1: Showing the Cut – off Values for MRI Measurements from Literature.

Statistical Analysis

The statistical analysis for data was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The strength of association between clinical symptoms and MRI measurements were assessed using logistic regression analysis and Cramer’s V test. Intra and Interobserver variability of MRI measurements were performed using students t-test and kappa value

Results                    

A total of 89 patients (45 males and 44 females, mean age 40±10.1 years) were included in this study. Based on the ECQ, 49 were found to be symptomatic (cases) and 40 were found to be asymptomatic (controls). In symptomatic patients 38 had unilateral claudication, 11 had bilateral claudication (Table 2). The mean and standard deviation for the MRI measurements at three different levels were given in (Table 3).

Table 2: Distribution of Claudication in Symptomatic Patients.

Table 3: Mean and Standard Deviation of all the MRI Measurements at Three Different Levels of Lumbar Spine.

Based on MRI Lumbar spinal canal measurements in symptomatic cases 45 were found to be stenotic and 4 were found to be non-stenotic whereas in asymptomatic cases 34 were found to be stenotic and 6 were found to be non-stenotic (Table 4). Based on MRI Forminal measurements in symptomatic cases 47 were found to be stenotic and 2 were found to be non-stenotic where as in asymptomatic cases 34 were found to be stenotic and 6 were found to be non-stenotic (Table 5).

Table 4: Showing Classification of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic into Stenotic and Non-Stenotic based on Lumbar Spinal Canal Dimensions.

Table 5: Showing Classification of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic into Stenotic and Non-Stenotic based on Forminal Dimensions.

The Phi coefficient value  between the lumbar canal dimensions with neurogenic claudication symptoms based on ECQ was 0.108, which showed weak positive correlation.

The Phi coefficient value  between foraminal dimensions with neurogenic claudication symptoms based on ECQ was 0.207, which showed weak positive correlation.

The kappa value was 0.81, which showed agreement of MRI measurements between two readers. There was no statistical difference for the MRI measurements done by Reader as per Student’s t-test.

Discussion

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a most commonly occurring disease in elderly patients affecting their life style and daily activities and it get worsen by time. MRI has become the prime investigation chosen for the diagnosis of LSS because of its better differentiation between the soft tissues. The criteria for diagnosing lumbar spinal stenosis still didn’t develop.⁸ Recent literature suggested that patients with symptoms of LSS have normal canal diameter and require correlation with clinical symptoms for improving the diagnosis of LSS. ^12,13

In our study we measured the association between MRI lumbar spinal canal, foraminal measurements and Clinical symptoms in determining lumbar spinal stenosis.

In our study we used Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire which had depiction of body chart of lower extremities and found to be helpful in localizing the pain through marking on the diagram by the subjects.

In our study we found weak association between the clinical symptoms and MRI measurements of Lumbar spinal canal and foraminal dimensions in determining lumbar stenosis. Both the symptomatic as well as asymptomatic patients were found to have stenotic measurements. The findings of our study are concordant with the results of study done by Geeta Anasuya et al.⁹, Ratnakar E Ambade et al.¹⁰, Janardhana et al.¹¹, Genvay et al.¹² They also reported that correlation of clinical parameter and MRI measurements may not be true in all cases, hence require consideration of clinical parameters while considering the treatment for the patient.

Andrew Hughes et al.¹³ in their study stated coefficient of stenosis, which showed significant differences between the symptomatic and asymptomatic patients and also showed significant correlation with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire (SSQ). However, in our study we did not assess the coefficient of stenosis with clinical symptoms.

In our study, we also considered the level of measuring of the MRI measurements at mid vertebral level of lumbar spine except for the ligamentous interfacet distance as the cut off value to consider as stenosis is 12 mm but this cut-off value was not correlating with the southern coastal population, which would result in the false positive results. We measured ligamentous interfacet distance as the inner margins of the ligamentum flavum at the facet joining regions were measured at the lower end plate of the body of the vertebrae of the lumbar spine as suggested by Pawar I et. al.⁸ and Johann Steurer et.al.¹⁵

In our study for determining the association of symptoms with spinal canal stenosis we considered three variables namely antero-posterior, transverse diameters of lumbar spinal canal and cross-sectional area of dural sac whereas Hughes et.al.¹³ considered all the variables for determining only spinal canal stenosis.

Hughes et.al¹³ mentioned the importance of cross sectional area of lateral recess as it had the ability to determine the lateral recess stenosis. Cross sectional areas of left and right lateral recess was measured at all the levels but these two variables are not considered in the image analysis for producing results of the study because there were no standard cut-off values for these variables provided in earlier studies. In our study, the average standard mean value for cross sectional area of the lateral recess was 33.6 mm^2..

There are few limitations in our study. Firstly, needs to be done in larger sample size for improved results and evaluation of coefficient of stenosis. Secondly, we did not calculate the cut-off value of MRI measurements.

Conclusion

From our study we conclude that the MRI measurements of lumbar spinal canal and foraminal dimensions were found to show weak positive correlation with neurological claudication symptomology assessed based on ECQ.

Acknowledgment

Nil

Conflict of Interest

No conflict of interest

Funding Source

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies

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