Abstract
Recent flow dynamics studies have shown that the eccentricity of the spinal cord affects the magnitude and characteristics of the slow bulk motion of CSF in the spinal subarachnoid space, which is an important variable in solute transport along the spinal canal. The goal of this study was to investigate how anatomic differences among subjects affect this bulk flow. T2-weighted spinal images were obtained in 4 subjects and repeated in 1 subject after repositioning. CSF velocity was calculated from phase-contrast MR images for 7 equally spaced levels along the length of the spine. This information was input into a 2-time-scale asymptotic analysis of the Navier-Stokes and concentration equations to calculate the short- and long-term CSF flow in the spinal subarachnoid space. Bulk flow streamlines were shown for each subject and position and inspected for differences in patterns. The 4 subjects had variable degrees of lordosis and kyphosis. Repositioning in 1 subject changed the degree of cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. The streamlines of bulk flow show the existence of distinct regions where the fluid particles flow in circular patterns. The location and interconnectivity of these recirculating regions varied among individuals and different positions. Lordosis, kyphosis, and spinal cord eccentricity in the healthy human spine result in subject-specific patterns of bulk flow recirculating regions. The extent of the interconnectivity of the streamlines among these recirculating regions is fundamental in determining the long-term transport of solute particles along the spinal canal.
Highlights
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSERecent flow dynamics studies have shown that the eccentricity of the spinal cord affects the magnitude and characteristics of the slow bulk motion of CSF in the spinal subarachnoid space, which is an important variable in solute transport along the spinal canal
The extent of the interconnectivity of the streamlines among these recirculating regions is fundamental in determining the long-term transport of solute particles along the spinal canal
The volume of oscillations of the blood flowing in and out of the rigid cranial vault causes the intracranial pressure to change in a time-periodic fashion with each heartbeat.[1,2,3]
Summary
The goal of this study was to investigate how anatomic differences among subjects affect this bulk flow. The main goal of the current study was to use our recently developed mathematical analysis to investigate how subject-specific anatomic differences affect the slow bulk flow of the CSF, providing improved understanding of the mechanisms regulating the transport of molecules and drugs along the spinal canal
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have