Lumbosacral Nerve Roots In The Study The Anatomy Of The Epidural Space

The selective posterior rhizotomy(SPR) is a new operation for children with spastic cerebral palsy since 1970's. This operation is able to reduce muscular tension and eliminate spasticity.Since it should be carried out in the subrachnoid space, loss of spinal fluid, secondary adhesion and infection of the space would likely be complicated. For the reduction and avoidence of such complications, some scholars suggested that the operation should be carried out in epidural space . From 1998 to 1999,we dissected microscopically and measured the lumbosacral nerve roots of 12 antiseptic adult cadavers (males7,females5),and 4 fresh children cadavers (males 2, females 2,aged 3, 4, 5,6 years old). The study showed (1) At the rate of 95%, the anterior and posterior lumboscral spinal roots have jioned before they penetrated the dura .(2)The length of lumbosacral nerve roots in epidural space was too short to be managed . (3)The anterior and posterior lumboscral spinal roots twirsted gradually and they gained an superior and inferior relationship when they reached at the center of the intervertebral foramen. (4)The epidural space was ofrich blood vessels and loose connective tissue that the hazard of bleeding would result from dissection .(5)The conjoined nerve roots(CR) are widespread,and the occurrence rates of CR in the epidural space are more than the rates in the subrachnoid space.Therefore ,working in the epidural space is very difficult for the identification of the anterior and posterior lumbosacral spinal roots, further posterior dissection of roots into subbundles and measuring the threshold with electrical stimulation to elicit muscular spasm. If SPR is planned to be carried out in the epidural space otherwise,special care is critical during the whole course.