Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41003483›Full record

ArticleTomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.)2025

Correlations of Lumbar Interspinous Distance with Neuroforaminal Dimensions, Disc Space Height, and Patient Demographic Factors.

Carson Cummings, Zachary Brandt, Kai Nguyen, Asael Isaac, Jean-Carlos Gutierrez, Ashley Kempf, David Cheng, Joel D Carson, Emily Novak, Jacob Razzouk and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tomography (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. 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

12 authors.

Carson CummingsSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.ORCID 0009-0002-1539-0964
Zachary BrandtSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.ORCID 0009-0001-3643-8026
Kai NguyenSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Asael IsaacSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.ORCID 0009-0008-3874-0940
Jean-Carlos GutierrezDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
Ashley KempfSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
David ChengDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Loma Linda University Health, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-4854-8190
Joel D CarsonSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Emily NovakSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Jacob RazzoukSchool of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
Olumide DanisaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-0173-7525
Wayne ChengDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jerry L. Pettis Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA 92357, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesA thorough understanding of spinal anatomy is essential for diagnostic assessment and surgical intervention. Interspinous distance (ISD), neuroforaminal dimensions (NFDs), and disc space height (DSH) have each been studied separately; however, their interrelationship remains unstudied. Given the use of interspinous implants as a minimally invasive treatment for lumbar stenosis and degenerative disc disease, defining these relationships is of growing clinical significance. This study investigates the correlation between ISD and both NFDs and DSH in a normative population and whether ISD varies with demographic factors.

methodsA retrospective chart review was performed on 852 patients who underwent CT imaging of the lumbar spine. ISD was measured from L1 to L5 as the shortest distance between the most caudal tip of the superior spinous process and the inferior spinous process. DSH was measured at the anterior, middle, and posterior margins. NFDs were assessed in axial and sagittal views, including axial width, craniocaudal height, and foraminal area. Statistical analysis assessed correlations between ISD, NFDs, DSH, and demographic variables.

resultsNo strong correlation was observed between ISD and either NFDs or DSH. Slightly greater correlation was present at L1-L3, weakening at L4-L5, where interspinous implants are most commonly placed. Demographic analysis revealed no consistent relationship between ISD and ethnicity, sex, or BMI. While it may be expected that larger ISD correlates with greater NFDs or DSH, our findings do not support this assumption.

conclusionsISD does not strongly correlate with NFDs or DSH, and demographic factors do not significantly influence ISD in a healthy population.

Indexed as

Intervertebral DiscLumbar VertebraeTomography, X-Ray ComputedAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesYoung Adultcomputed tomographydisc spaceinterspinous distancelumbar spinemorphometric analysisneuroforamina

Identifiers

PMID41003483
PMCPMC12473633

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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.