• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the indirect estimation of the lumbar intervertebral disc size by two anthropometric methods(Colombini's method and Turk and Celan's method), in order to compare these indirect methods with the direct analysis by computed tomography(CT). The wrist, elbow, knee and ankle joint(right side) diameters were measured in 52 normal volunteers and intervertebral disc sizes were measured in 50 normal subjects by CT. Then the intervertebral disc sizes were calculated using two anthropometric formula. The data were analysed with ANOVA to differentiation between indirect and direct estimation of the lumbar intervertebral disc sizes. This study shows that male subjects have significantly larger L4-5 and L5-S1 intervertebral disc sizes than female subjects. In addition, disc sizes calculated by Colombini's formula were significantly larger than Turk & Celan's formula but there was no significant differences in the compared Turk & Celan's estimation with CT values. The indirect estimation of the intervertebral disc size by Turk & Celan's formula can be considered as a clinically useful method. However, further study should be conducted to compare anthropometric values according to age.