The applied anatomic in vestigationof the lumbar segmental vessels and nerves

Objective:To provide the anatom ic data forlum barinterbody fusion w ith laparoscopy andimprove the reliability of this operation. M ethods:50 sides ofadulthum an cadavers w ere contributed to theinvestigation of the course and distribution of lumbar segmental vessels and sympathetic trunk on lateral face ofthe lumbar spine, the distance between adjacent segmental vessels, vertical dimension between sympathetictrunk and lumbar plexus nerve, the distance between superior or inferior border of intervertebral disc andadjacent segmental vessels. Results:O n the lateralface ofthe lum barvertebralbody,the segm entalarteriesandveins accompaned with communicating branch presented constantly and run in the minor groove of the lumbarvertebral body. There was no statistic difference of measurement values as above between left and right sides(P0.05). There was a safe region in which no important vessel and nerve on the lateral face of each lumbarintervertebral space was existed. The minimum area of the safe region was about 27.90 ×27.18mm.Conclusions: Firstly,the course of lumbar segmental vessels are invariant at the lateral face of the lumbarvertebral body. Secondly,there is a safe region without vessels and nerves on the lateral face of the lumbarspine and it corresponds to the intervertebral space. Thirdly,it maybe avoid damaging the vessels and nervesduring the operation of lumbar interbody fusion with laparoscopy on the safe region.