AGE-RELATED DIFFERENCES IN CERVICAL AND LUMBAR SPINAL CORD MORPHOLOGY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Main Article Content
Keywords
Spinal Cord, Morphology, Age Groups, Cross-Sectional Study, MRI.
Abstract
Age-related changes in spinal cord morphology can have significant implications for diagnosing and managing spinal pathologies. This study aims to elucidate these changes, thereby facilitating a deeper clinical understanding and more effective treatment approaches.
Objective: To analyse and compare the morphological characteristics of the spinal cord among various age groups using a cross-sectional study design.
Methods: The study included 100 participants categorised into five distinct age groups. Each participant underwent a high-resolution MRI to assess various aspects of spinal cord morphology, including cross-sectional area, diameter, and curvature in both cervical and lumbar spinal regions. Statistical analysis was used to compare these metrics across different age groups.
Results: Preliminary analysis indicated observable morphological variations across age groups. Notably, older age groups showed a trend toward reduced cross-sectional area and increased curvature, suggesting spinal cord atrophy and structural changes with advancing age. These changes were more pronounced in the cervical region compared to the lumbar region.
Conclusion: This study presents a comprehensive cross-sectional analysis of spinal cord morphology across age groups, providing critical insights into age-related changes. These findings underscore the importance of considering age in the clinical assessment and treatment of spinal disorders.
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