A study of the normal interpedicular distance of the spine in Korean teenagers (estimation of normal range byroentgenographic measurement)

The radiological measurement of the interpedicular distance using a routine antero-posterior view of the spinegives of the spine gives important clinical criteria in evaluation of the intraspinal tumor and stenosis of thespinal canal, and aids for diagnosis of the lesions. In 1934 Elsberg and Dyke reported values of interpedicular distances as determined on roentgenograms for spine of white adult, and in 1968 Song prepared normal values of interpedicular distances for Korean adult. The present investigetion was undertaken to provide normal interpedicular distances of Korean teenagers. The author observed the antero-posterior films of the spine of 200 normal teenagers which were composed of 100 male and 100 female. The normal values of the interpedicular distances of Korean teenagers were obtained, as well as 90% tolerance range for clinical use. In this statistical analysis, there were noted significant differences between male and female, and each age groups. It was observed that average male measurements were consistantly larger than female by about 1 mm and the growth of the spinal canal appeared to be continued.