Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39759965›Full record

ArticleBrain & spine2025

Lumbar disc space height in relation to neural foraminal dimensions and patient characteristics: A morphometric analysis from L1-S1 using computed tomography.

David Shin, Ethan Vyhmeister, Daniel Im, Andrew Fay, Owen Faehner, Andrew Cabrera, Alexander Bouterse, Lauren Seo, Derran Bedward, Mei Carter and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Brain & spine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

David ShinSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Ethan VyhmeisterSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Daniel ImSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Andrew FaySchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Owen FaehnerSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Andrew CabreraSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Alexander BouterseSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Lauren SeoDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA.
Derran BedwardSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Mei CarterSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Davis CarterSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Jacob RazzoukSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Omar RamosTwin Cities Spine Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Nathaniel WycliffeDepartment of Radiology, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Wayne ChengDivision of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
Olumide DanisaDepartments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurological Surgery, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: The normative relationship between lumbar intervertebral disc space height (DSH) and neuroforaminal dimensions (NFD) has yet to be defined. Research question: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between lumbar DSH and NFD using computed tomography (CT), accounting for influences of patient demographic and anthropometric characteristics. Materials and methods: We analyzed CT imaging of 350 female and 350 male patients. Anterior, middle, and posterior DSH were measured. NFD were defined as sagittal anterior-to-posterior (AP) width, axial AP width, foraminal height, and area. Statistical analyses were performed to assess associations among DSH, NFD, and patient height, weight, body mass index, sex, and ethnicity. Results: Irrespective of disc level, mean anterior, middle, and posterior DSH were 7.98 mm (n = 3500), 8.16 mm (n = 3500), and 4.09 mm (n = 3500). DSH measurements demonstrated increasing, linear trends moving caudally from L1-L2 to L5-S1, while NFD demonstrated a unimodal distribution pattern with largest NFD at L3-L4 and smallest NFD at L1-2 and L5-S1. Male patients demonstrated larger DSH compared to female patients from L1-S1. Asian patients demonstrated taller DSH across all levels L1-S1. Discussion and conclusion: This study describes 38,500 CT-based L1-S1 DSH and NFD in young patients without spinal pathology. DSH follows an increasing trend moving caudally from L1-S1, while NFD demonstrate a unimodal distribution clustered at L3-L4. NFD are not moderately or strongly associated with DSH. DSH is influenced by sex and ethnicity but is not moderately or strongly influenced by patient height, weight, and BMI.

Indexed as

AnatomicComputed tomographyDisc space heightEthnicityIntervertebral disc spaceNeuroforamina

Identifiers

PMID39759965
PMCPMC11700277

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.