Anatomical study of the processing line and the range of thoracolumbar vertebral pedicle channel for vertebral reconstruction

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the processing line and the range of thoracolumbar (T10-L2) vertebral pedicle channel for vertebral reconstruction.Methods The thoracolumbar vertebrae (T10-L2) of thirty fresh specimens were performed CT scan,slice thickness of 1 mm without interval.Each vertebral body was reconstructed using the software Mimics 10.0 and measured each vertebral body pedicle axis length (L),pedicle length (L0),width (W) and height (H0),vertebral height (H),pedicle entry point in the sagittal plane angle (α) and the pedicle entry point in the cross-section angle (β),and further calculated the volume through vertebral pedicle channel for vertebral reconstruction.Results The average thoracolumbar (T10,T11,T12,L1,and L2) vertebral pedicle axis length was 32.64±5.66,31.80±6.41,38.46±3.52,40.31±4.39,and 42.72±3.36 mm prospectively.The average vertebral pedicle length was 12.38±2.06,11.77±2.15,14.63±2.34,15.46±3.04 and 14.37±1.64 mm.The average pedicle width was 5.09±0.26,5.79±1.10,7.35±1.87,7.17±0.69 and 7.14±0.84 mm.The average pedicle height was 9.76±1.43,10.83±0.77,11.16±0.78,11.33±1.26 and 11.16±0.96 mm.The average vertebral height was 18.12±0.88,19.48±1.02,21.25±1.27,22.88±0.68 and 23.20±0.93 mm.The average α angle was 25.06°±3.84°,30.87°±7.28°,25.12°±5.18°,20.55°±1.54° and 21.74°±2.58°.The average β angle was 43.60°±4.52°,49.48°±10.30°,41.97°±5.19°,40.29°±6.49° and 42.85°±6.47°.The average volume of one side of vertebral body after vertebral reconstruction respectively was 1.02±0.36,1.30±0.43,1.96±0.67,1.84±0.48 and 1.94±0.41 cm3,the corresponding percentage of total vertebral volume was 53.95％,55.68％,52.67％,49.53％ and 48.14％.Conclusion It is possible to use the pedicle channels for vertebral body reconstruction,reduction the end-plates and filling bone graft inside vertebral body. Key words: Thoracic vertebrae; Lumbar vertebrae; Fractures; Biomechanics; Anatomy