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The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery

Table 3 Relationship between Pfirrmann grading and nerve root compression at L4–5 level

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

 

Total

(n = 100)

Grades 1–2

(n = 38)

Grades 3–5

(n = 62)

p-value

Van Rijn

       

 No RC

18

18.0%

18

47.4%

0

0.0%

 < 0.001*

 RC

82

82.0%

20

52.6%

62

100.0%

NASS

       

 Normal

12

12.0%

12

31.6%

0

0.0%

0.005*

 Asymmetric bulge

24

24.0%

10

26.3%

14

22.6%

 Diffuse bulge

56

56.0%

16

42.1%

40

64.5%

 Focal protrusion

4

4.0%

0

0.0%

4

6.5%

 Extrusion

4

4.0%

0

0.0%

4

6.5%

Mid-sagittal AP diameter of dural sac

    

 Mean ± SD

15.8 ± 1.5

16.2 ± 1.7

15.5 ± 1.4

0.117

 Min–Max

10.8–20.0

13.5–19.0

10.8–17.8

Cross-sectional area of dural sac

    

 Mean ± SD

157.5 ± 62.0

202.6 ± 52.1

129.8 ± 50.7

 < 0.001*

 Min–Max

31.0–302.0

120.0–302.0

31.0–225.0

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

    

 Mean ± SD

68.9 ± 20.0

82.0 ± 11.1

60.8 ± 20.0

 < 0.001*

 Min–Max

24.0–95.0

57.0–94.0

24.0–95.0

Central spinal canal grading

       

 0

28

28.0%

20

52.6%

8

12.9%

0.002*

 1

18

18.0%

10

26.3%

8

12.9%

 2

10

10.0%

2

5.3%

8

12.9%

 3

44

44.0%

6

15.8%

38

61.3%

Rt. LSC

    

 Median [IQR]

2.5 [1.2–4.0]

4.2 [2.7–6.0]

1.5 [0.0–2.8]

 < 0.001*

 Min–Max

0.0–7.0

0.0–7.0

0.0–4.5

Grade of Rt. LSC

       

 0

18

18.0%

18

47.4%

0

0.0%

 < 0.001*

 1

16

16.0%

6

15.8%

10

16.1%

 2

30

30.0%

10

26.3%

20

32.3%

 3

36

36.0%

4

10.5%

32

51.6%

Lt. LSC

    

 Median [IQR]

2.5 [0.0–3.5]

4.5 [2.4–6.5]

1.2 [0.0–2.8]

 < 0.001*

 Min–Max

0.0–7.4

0.0–7.4

0.0–4.5

Grade of Lt. LSC

       

 0

16

16.0%

16

42.1%

0

0.0%

 < 0.001*

 1

10

10.0%

6

15.8%

4

6.5%

 2

32

32.0%

12

31.6%

20

32.3%

 3

42

42.0%

4

10.5%

38

61.3%

Diameter of Rt. intervertebral foramen

    

 Mean ± SD

9.3 ± 2.2

10.6 ± 1.1

8.5 ± 2.3

 < 0.001*

 Min–Max

2.7–13.0

8.3–13.0

2.7–13.0

Grade of Rt. lumbar foraminal stenosis

       

 0

60

60.0%

34

89.5%

26

41.9%

0.002*

 1

22

22.0%

4

10.5%

18

29.0%

 2

16

16.0%

0

0.0%

16

25.8%

 3

2

2.0%

0

0.0%

2

3.2%

Diameter of Lt. intervertebral foramen

    

 Mean ± SD

9.3 ± 2.3

10.5 ± 1.5

8.6 ± 2.4

0.001*

 Min–Max

2.6–13.6

8.0–13.6

2.6–13.0

Grade of Lt. lumbar foraminal stenosis

       

 0

60

60.0%

32

84.2%

28

45.2%

0.004*

 1

14

14.0%

6

15.8%

8

12.9%

 2

22

22.0%

0

0.0%

22

35.5%

 3

4

4.0%

0

0.0%

4

6.5%

  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
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