LUMBAR SPINE

Lumbar Spine

The lumbar spine is also known as low back which is the third major part of the spine. There are five vertebrae or bones which exist in the lumbar spine and are located between the segments of sacral and thoracic segments. Each vertebra is arranged on top of the other and between each vertebra there is a gel-like cushion which is known as a disc. These discs are helpful in absorbing distribute stress, pressure and vertebrae is kept from grinding against each other.

The lumbar spine is a 3-dimensional structure which is capable of extension, rotation, lateral bending and capable of flexion. Strong muscles and ligaments support the bony structures and play a very important role in the control and initiation of movements. The lumbar spine transmits all the bending, compressive and rotational forces which generate between the upper and lower body are surrounded by musculature and ligaments.

The lumbar spine consists of:-

Ligaments, Tendons – The ligaments and tendons are helpful in stabilizing the spine and guarding against excessive movement of any muscle in any one direction.

Nerve Center – There is a vertical hole in the center of the spinal column known as spinal canal which contains the spinal cord. The nerves and spinal cord are the parts of the central nervous system which acts as the body’s neural message system.

Spinal joints - The spine consists of joints known as facet joints and these make the spine flexible.

During flexion , the intervertebral disk is compressed and as a result it widens the spinal canal.

Extension of the lumbar spine is limited and narrows the spinal cord and produce posterior compression of the disk. The processes which limit the extension of the lumbar spine are ventral muscles, anterior longitudinal ligament, lamina etc.

Rotation of the lumbar spine is limited by the facet joints and the iliolumbar ligaments and involves compression of annulus fibrosus fibers.

The patient having an acute lumbar spine fracture can be determined by the laboratory tests such as coagulation profile, CBC count, electrolytes etc. There are two types of lumbar surgical procedures:-

Lumbar spinal fusion – It involves the bone grafting which can stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment and as a result helps in reducing the pain in the joint. The medical devices such as bone graft procedures, spine surgery instrumentation and bone stimulators are used in this type of surgery.

Decompression back surgery – It involves the removal of a small portion of the bone over the nerve root.