Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2016 Dec;29(4):145-154. 10.11637/kjpa.2016.29.4.145.

Morphometric Analysis of Distances between Sacral Hiatus and Conus Medullaris Using Magnetic Resonance Image in Korean Adult

• Park TS
• Hwang BW
• Park SJ
• Baek SY
• Yoon S

• KMID: 2364637
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/kjpa.2016.29.4.145

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide basic biometric data on Korean adults through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measurements of the distances between the apex of sacral hiatus (SH) and the termination of dural sac (DS), and between SH and conus medullaris (CM) because they are critical to the performance of epidural neuroplasty. A total of 200 patients (88 males and 112 females) with back pain, who had no spine fracture, significant spinal deformity, and spondyloisthesis were selected for this study. The subjects were of mean age 54.3 (20~84) years and mean height 161.3 cm (135~187). T2-weighted MRI images were used for correlation analysis to evaluate the relationships between the distances, and variables such as sex and height. In all patients, the mean distance between SH and DS was 62.8±9.4 mm and the mean distance between SH and CM was 232.2±21.8 mm. The minimum distance and the maximum distance between SH and DS were 34.8 mm and 93.9 mm respectively, and the minimum distance and the maximum distance between SH and CM were 155.0 mm and 284.0 mm respectively. In female patients, both the distances between the SH and DS, and between SH and CM were shorter when compared to those of the male patients (p<0.05). Both the distances between SH and DS and between SH and CM showed a significant correlation with height (p<0.01). The results of this study will provide a useful biometric data on the distances between SH and DS and between SH and CM in Korean in ensuring clinical safety and in the development of more effective catheterization techniques for epidural neuroplasty in Korean.

Keyword

Sacral hiatus; Termination of dural sac; Conus medullaris; Magnetic resonance imaging; Korean

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Back Pain
Catheterization
Catheters
Congenital Abnormalities
Conus Snail*
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Spinal Cord*
Spine

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Determination of the exact measurement of position in relation to the location and the type of variation of the sacral hiatus (SH): (A) Identification of the position of SH using bone setting sagittal images with CT, and (B) Determination of the exact location of measurement by using T2-weighted MR images (arrows; Apex of the SH).

• 

  Fig. 2. Schematic illustration of the measurement methods: (A) Identification of the position of the sacral hiatus the distance between SH and the termination of dural sac (SH). (B) Measurement of (DS). (C) Measurement of the distance between SH and the conus medullaris (CM).

• 

  Fig. 3. MRI T2-weighted, midsagittal plane images using PACS (picture archiving communication system) were measured along the vertebral canal: (A) The position of the sacral hiatus (SH), termination of dural sac (DS) and conus medullaris (CM). (B) The distance between SH and DS. (C) The distance between SH and CM.

• 

  Fig. 4. Location of the Apex of the sacral hiatus (SH). The incidences of the apex of SH located at the level of S3 to S5 vertebrae were 9.5% at the level of S3, 63.5% at the level of S4, and 27% at the level of S5.

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  Fig. 5. Histogram showing the frequency of the vertebral level of the apexes of the sacral hiatus in male and female subjects. 5.5% of the male subjects, and 4% of the female subjects were located at the level of S3. 28% of the male subjects, and 35.5% of the female subjects were located at the level of S4. 10.5% of the male subjects, and 16.5% of the female subjects were located at the level of S5.

• 

  Fig. 6. Histogram of the frequency of the vertebral level of the apexes of the sacral hiatus among the different height groups in (≤149 both male and female subjects. 1.5% of the height group (150∼159 cm), 3% of the height cm), 2% of the height group (160∼169 cm), and 3% of the height group (≥170 cm) were group (≤149 cm), located at the level of S3. 11.5% of the height group (150∼159 cm), 18% of the height group 22.5% of the height group (160∼169 cm), and 11.5% of the height group (≥170 cm) were (≤149 cm), located at the level of S4. 3.5% of the height group (150∼159 cm), 13% of the height group 6% of the height group (160∼169 cm), and 4.5% of the height group (≥170 cm) were located at the level of S5.

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  Fig. 7. Histogram of the distances between the sacral hiatus (SH) and termination of dural sac (DS), and between SH and conus medullaris (CM) according to the sex. (A) The distance between SH and DS. (B) The distance between SH and CM. The data were analyzed by t-test and were considered significant at p<0.05.

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  Fig. 8. Vertical box plots of the distances between the sacral hiatus (SH) and termination of dural sac (DS), and between SH and conus medullaris (CM) according to the height and sex. (A) The distance between SH and DS. (B) The distance between SH and CM. The data were analyzed by one way ANOVA.

• 

  Fig. 9. Vertical box plots of the distances between the sacral hiatus (SH) and termination of dural sac (DS), and between SH and conus medullaris (CM) according to the height. (A) The distance between SH and DS. (B) The distance between SH and CM. The data were analyzed by correlation coefficient and were considered significant at p < 0.01.

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