Skip to main content
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery

Table 2 Relationship between Pfirrmann grading and nerve root compression at L3–4 level

From: Correlation between lumbar spinal canal magnetic resonance imaging grading systems and parameters in lumbar spinal canal compromise

 

Total

(n = 50)

Grades 1–2

(n = 56)

Grades 3–5

(n = 44)

p-value

Van Rijn

       

 No RC

52

52.0%

46

82.1%

6

13.6%

 < 0.001*

 RC

48

48.0%

10

17.9%

38

86.4%

NASS L3 4

       

 Normal

42

42.0%

38

67.9%

4

9.1%

 < 0.001*

 Asymmetric bulge

10

10.0%

2

3.6%

8

18.2%

 Diffuse bulge

46

46.0%

16

28.6%

30

68.2%

 Focal protrusions

2

2.0%

0

0.0%

2

4.5%

Mid-sagittal AP diameter of dural sac

    

 Mean ± SD

15.0 ± 1.5

15.1 ± 1.7

14.9 ± 1.4

0.678

 Min–Max

11.5–19.0

12.0–18.0

11.5–17.0

 Cross-sectional area of dural sac

    

 Mean ± SD

178.6 ± 53.0

200.6 ± 47.8

150.6 ± 46.3

0.001*

 Min–Max

60.0–311.0

115.0–311.0

60.0–220.0

Degree of the dural sac compression at disc level (%)

    

 Mean ± SD

76.2 ± 17.7

85.1 ± 7.1

64.9 ± 20.7

 < 0.001*

 Min–Max

17.0–96.0

69.0–96.0

17.0–95.0

Central spinal canal grading

       

 0

42

42.0%

34

60.7%

8

18.2%

 < 0.001*

 1

16

16.0%

14

25.0%

2

4.5%

 2

24

24.0%

8

14.3%

16

36.4%

 3

18

18.0%

0

0.0%

18

40.9%

Rt. LSC

    

 Median [IQR]

4.5 [2.3–6.5]

6.0 [4.0–7.0)

2.8 [1.3–4.5]

0.001*

 Min–Max

0.0–8.3

1.0–8.3

0.0–8.0

Grade of Rt. LSC

       

 0

44

44.0%

38

67.9%

6

13.6%

 < 0.001*

 1

26

26.0%

12

21.4%

14

31.8%

 2

16

16.0%

4

7.1%

12

27.3%

 3

14

14.0%

2

3.6%

12

27.3%

Lt. LSC

    

 Median [IQR]

4.8 [2.6–6.5]

5.9 [4.5–6.5]

3.1 [2.0–4.8]

0.001*

 Min–Max

0.0–7.5

1.5–7.5

0.0–7.0

Grade of Lt. LSC

       

 0

48

48.0%

40

71.4%

8

18.2%

0.001*

 1

22

22.0%

10

17.9%

12

27.3%

 2

18

18.0%

4

7.1%

14

31.8%

 3

12

12.0%

2

3.6%

10

22.7%

Diameter of Rt. intervertebral foramen

    

 Mean ± SD

10.6 ± 2.0

11.2 ± 1.7

9.8 ± 2.1

0.011*

 Min–Max

3.5–14.0

7.0–14.0

3.5–13.0

Grade of Rt. lumbar foraminal stenosis

       

 0

78

78.0%

48

85.7%

30

68.2%

0.195

 1

10

10.0%

6

10.7%

4

9.1%

 2

8

8.0%

2

3.6%

6

13.6%

 3

4

4.0%

0

0.0%

4

9.1%

Diameter of Lt. intervertebral foramen

    

 Median [IQR]

11.0 [10.0–12.0]

11.0 [10.0–11.7]

10.5 [9.3–12.0]

0.160

 Min–Max

3.3–13.6

7.7–13.6

3.3–12.8

Grade of Lt. lumbar foraminal stenosis

       

 0

84

84.0%

52

92.9%

32

72.7%

0.089

 1

8

8.0%

4

7.1%

4

9.1%

 2

4

4.0%

0

0.0%

4

9.1%

 3

4

4.0%

0

0.0%

4

9.1%

  1. IQR interquartile range; LSC lateral spinal canal; Lt. left; Max maximum; Min minimum; n number; Rt. right; SD standard deviation
  2. *Significant at p < 0.05
Back to article page