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

Elfadle, Amr Abu; Zarad, Carmen Ali; Elmaaty, Ali Ahmed Abou; El-Nagaa, Bassem F. Abou; Soliman, Ahmed Y.

doi:10.1186/s41983-022-00543-0

The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery

Table 4 Relationship between Pfirrmann grading and nerve root compression at L5–S1 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	38	38.0%	24	63.2%	14	22.6%	0.004*
RC	62	62.0%	14	36.8%	48	77.4%	0.004*
NASS
Normal	20	20.0%	14	36.8%	6	9.7%	0.079
Asymmetric bulge	22	22.0%	8	21.1%	14	22.6%
Diffuse bulge	32	32.0%	6	15.8%	26	41.9%
Focal protrusion	26	26.0%	10	26.3%	16	25.8%
Mid-sagittal AP diameter of dural sac
Mean ± SD	16.8 ± 2.0		17.2 ± 2.2		16.6 ± 1.9		0.384
Min–Max	11.0–22.0		14.2–22.0		11.0- 16		0.384
Cross-sectional area of dural sac
Mean ± SD	199.0 ± 69.6		229.9 ± 69.4		180.1 ± 63.6		0.013*
Min–Max	90.0–374.0		136.0–374.0		90.0–350.0		0.013*
Degree of the dural sac compression at disc level (%)
Mean ± SD	76.4 ± 13.4		83.2 ± 9.4		72.2 ± 13.9		0.002*
Min–Max	42.0–95.0		66.0–95.0		42.0–90.0		0.002*
Central spinal canal grading
0	34	34.0%	20	52.6%	14	22.6%	0.023*
1	28	28.0%	10	26.3%	18	29.0%
2	20	20.0%	8	21.1%	12	19.4%
3	18	18.0%	0	0.0%	18	29.0%
Rt. LSC
Median [IQR]	4.2 [2.0–6.0]		6.0 [4.8–6.5]		2.6 [0.8–4.8]		< 0.001*
Min–Max	0.0–9.0		1.7–9.0		0.0–7.1		< 0.001*
Grade of Rt. LSC
0	42	42.0%	28	73.7%	14	22.6%	0.001*
1	10	10.0%	4	10.5%	6	9.7%
2	26	26.0%	6	15.8%	20	32.3%
3	22	22.0%	0	0.0%	22	35.5%
Lt. LSC
Median [IQR]	3.7 [1.7–6.0]		5.5 [4.0–6.9]		2.5 [1.3–4.8]		0.006*
Min–Max	0.0–8.8		1.6–8.8		0.0–7.0		0.006*
Grade of Lt. LSC
0	38	38.0%	24	63.2%	14	22.6%	0.013*
1	12	12.0%	6	15.8%	6	9.7%
2	28	28.0%	4	10.5%	24	38.7%
3	22	22.0%	4	10.5%	18	29.0%
Diameter of Rt. intervertebral foramen
Mean ± SD	8.7 ± 2.5		10.2 ± 1.8		7.8 ± 2.4		< 0.001*
Min–Max	2.7–14.0		6.5 – 14.0		2.7–12.0		< 0.001*
Grade of Rt. lumbar foraminal stenosis
0	64	64.0%	32	84.2%	32	51.6%	0.054
1	10	10.0%	4	10.5%	6	9.7%
2	20	20.0%	2	5.3%	18	29.0%
3	6	6.0%	0	0.0%	6	9.7%
Diameter of Lt. intervertebral foramen
Mean ± SD	8.6 ± 2.7		10.1 ± 2.1		7.8 ± 2.6		0.002*
Min–Max	2.6–13.0		6.6 – 13.0		2.6–12.0		0.002*
Grade of Lt. lumbar foraminal stenosis
0	58	58.0%	30	78.9%	28	45.2%	0.024*
1	20	20.0%	8	21.1%	12	19.4%
2	8	8.0%	0	0.0%	8	12.9%
3	14	14.0%	0	0.0%	14	22.6%

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

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