Lumbar Vertebrae, Spinal Anesthesia Evaluation
Conditions
Keywords
vertebral level, Ultrasound, Tuffier's line, ASIS, Lateral decubitus position
Brief summary
Tuffier's line is commonly used as a landmark for estimating lumbar vertebral levels during spinal anesthesia. However, its accuracy can vary depending on factors such as age, sex, BMI, and posture. This study evaluates the consistency of an alternative landmark, the "ASIS line" (a line connecting both Anterior Superior Iliac Spines), for identifying lumbar levels in the lateral decubitus position. Researchers will mark both the ASIS line and Tuffier's line on participants and use ultrasound to verify the exact vertebral level where each line crosses the spine. The goal is to determine if the ASIS line provides a more consistent and reliable estimation of lumbar levels compared to Tuffier's line.
Interventions
DIAGNOSTIC_TESTLumbar Ultrasound & Palpation
Identification of vertebral levels using Tuffier's line (palpation) and ASIS line, followed by ultrasound verification.
Sponsors
Kangbuk Samsung Hospital
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 18 to 85 years * Patients scheduled for spinal anesthesia or lumbar ultrasound * Participants who voluntarily agreed to participate and provided written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* History of spinal surgery or spinal deformity * Infection or wounds at the puncture site * Inability to maintain the lateral decubitus position * Congenital lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (e.g., sacralized L5 or lumbarized S1) * Any other condition deemed unsuitable for the study by the investigator
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency of Vertebral Level Identification (Standard Deviation) | Day 1 (Immediately during the ultrasound examination) | The specific vertebral level where the ASIS line and Tuffier's line intersect the spine will be identified using ultrasound. The lumbar spine (from L2 upper to S1 upper) is divided into segments (e.g., L2=2, L3=3, L4=4, L5=5, S1=6). The consistency of each method is evaluated by calculating and comparing the standard deviation (SD) of the identified vertebral levels. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Difference in Mean Intersection Level | Day 1 | Comparison of the mean vertebral levels identified by the ASIS line versus Tuffier's line to determine if there is a significant difference in the average level indicated. |
| Rate of Identification within L4-L5 Interspace | Day 1 | The percentage of cases where the identified line falls within the target L4-L5 interspace (or within ±1 interspace range). |
Countries
South Korea
Contacts
CONTACTSung Hyun Lee, MD, PhD
Outcome results
None listed