DOES DECUBITUS AFFECT NEURAL ELEMENTS POSITIONING? A MRI STUDY COMPARING DORSAL AND LATERAL POSITION

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the displacement of nerve structures according to the decubitus position of the patient in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Methods MRI was performed at a radiology clinic in 20 patients in dorsal and right lateral decubitus. The measurement considered was the shortest distance between the dura mater and the medial wall of the pedicle. Results The largest measurement was 11.6 mm in left lateral decubitus, 12.2 mm in right lateral decubitus, 10.5 mm in right dorsal decubitus, and 9.2 mm in left dorsal decubitus. In some patients the space between the medial wall of the pedicle and the dura mater was larger when in lateral decubitus, while in others when in dorsal decubitus. The mean displacement of the measurements on the left was 1.14 mm and on the right 1.355 mm. Conclusions The structures moved on average little more than 1 mm in the positions studied. The positioning of the patient for surgery does not change the space to be approached, being the surgeon’s choice according to his learning curve. Level of evidence II; Prospective study of lower quality.