The reproducibility of the iliac crest as a marker of lumbar spine level.
cross_sectional · Level IV
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 8943605.
- No licence information is recorded for this record.
- Because redistribution is not established, this page shows the abstract only. Follow the links below for the full text.
Abstract
The postero-anterior lumbar spine X rays of 163 patients undergoing investigation for back pain were reviewed and the spinal level marking the intersection of a line joining the iliac crests was determined. This point coincided with the L4 spinous process or the L4-5 interspace in 78.6% of patients but was as high as the L3-4 interspace in 3.7% of cases. Reliance on this landmark might lead to more cranial placement of epidural or spinal needles than was intended and this may increase the risk of spinal cord damage.
Medical subject headings
- Anesthesia, Epidural
- Ilium
- Lumbar Vertebrae