Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Oct;72(10):782-7.
doi: 10.1590/0004-282x20140135.

Cauda equina redundant nerve roots are associated to the degree of spinal stenosis and to spondylolisthesis

Leonor Garbin Savarese  1 , Geraldo Dias Ferreira-Neto  2 , Carlos Fernando Pereira da Silva Herrero  3 , Helton Luiz Aparecido Defino  3 , Marcello H Nogueira-Barbosa  1
Affiliations
Free article

Cauda equina redundant nerve roots are associated to the degree of spinal stenosis and to spondylolisthesis

Leonor Garbin Savarese et al. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2014 Oct.
Free article

Abstract

To evaluate the association of redundant nerve roots of cauda equina (RNRCE) with the degree of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and with spondylolisthesis.

Method: After Institutional Board approval, 171 consecutive patients were retrospectively enrolled, 105 LSS patients and 66 patients without stenosis. The dural sac cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured on T2w axial MRI at the level of L2-3, L3-4 and L4-5 intervertebral discs. Two blinded radiologists classified cases as exhibiting or not RNRCE in MRI. Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was assessed.

Results: RNRCE were associated with LSS. RRNCE was more frequent when maximum stenosis<55 mm2. Substantial intra- observer agreement and moderate inter-observer agreement were obtained in the classification of RNRCE. Spondylolisthesis was identified in 27 patients and represented increased risk for RRNCE.

Conclusion: LSS is a risk factor for RNRCE, especially for dural sac CSA<55 mm2. LSS and spondylolisthesis are independent risk factors for RNRCE.

PubMed Disclaimer

LinkOut - more resources