Abstract
Article: Sonographic Assessment of Human Lumbar Intervertebral Disks: A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Naomi Winn, Birender Balain, Matthew Ockendon, MBBS, Victor Cassar-Pullicino, MBBS, and Radhesh Lalam, MBBS
Category: MSK
Credit: 1.5 SDMS CME Credit
Objectives: After studying the article titled “Sonographic Assessment of Human Lumbar Intervertebral Disks: A Cadaveric Study,” you will be able to:
Compare ultrasound versus MRI in the evaluation of defects in intervertebral disks
Describe the ultrasound approaches used to image the vertebral disks
Understand how ultrasound could be used to evaluate intervertebral disks
What structures are the arrows pointing to in Figure 1A?
Anterior longitudinal ligament Vertebral bodies Sacrum Intervertebral disks
In this study, which approach was used for the initial sonographic assessment?
Posterior interlaminar approach Anterior transabdominal approach Lateral transpsoas approach Direct approach
What structure is visualized with sonography as longitudinal fibers at the periphery of the disk?
Annulus fibrosus Nucleus pulposus Disk defect Endplate
What Naish grade did the L4-L5 disk receive for both direct and indirect methods?
1 2 3 4
What ultrasound technique was used to optimize disk visualization?
Narrow sector width Trapezoidal imaging Linear imaging Curved transducer imaging
In Figure 8, what structure is the open arrow pointing to?
Annulus fibrosus Intervertebral disk Nucleus pulposus Endplates
According to Table 1, what is the Pfirrmann grade for the L4-L5 direct?
1 2 3 4
According to Table 2, what is the mean indirect velocity (m/s) for the L5-S1 disk?
4.57 5.26 6.09 7.25
Which Naish grade is characterized by total loss of lamella distinction within the annulus, local clear hyperechoic areas in the nucleus, and loss of distinction between the annulus and nucleus?
1 2 3 4
Which Pfirrmann score is characterized by inhomogeneous disk structure with or without horizontal bands, clear distinction between the nucleus and the annulus, signal intensity is hyper intense and isointense to the CSF, and normal disk height?
1 2 3 4