Change in Canal Diameter with Position in the Cervical and Lumbar Spine as Assessed on Kinetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

Cervical spinal stenosis and compression are known risk factors for development of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and lumbar spinal stenosis is a common cause for lumbar spinal surgery. Stenosis is the summation of both morphological disc abnormalities as well as structural restriction of the canal. There is little in vivo data on changes in cervical and lumbar canal diameter from flexion to extension.