Abstract
The lateral costotransverse ligament, a short band that stabilizes the costovertebral joint, is found in close proximity to the dorsal root ganglion. This ligament is an important surgical landmark during tumor resections or nerve blocks in the paravertebral space. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively and qualitatively describe the morphology of the lateral costotransverse ligament and its relation to the dorsal root ganglion at all levels of the thoracic spine. The thoracic spines of eight embalmed cadavers were dissected bilaterally. The length, width, and thickness of the ligament were measured. The distance from the inferolateral aspect of the ligament to the lateral aspect of the dorsal root ganglion was also measured. Three bilateral groups of lateral costotransverse ligaments, top (on ribs 1–2), middle (on ribs 3–10), and bottom (on ribs 11–12), were compared based on anatomic distinctions between the costotransverse joints, which can influence ligament morphology. Among the three groups, the differences between the length, width, and thickness were not statistically significant. However, the distance from the lateral costotransverse ligament to the dorsal root ganglion differed significantly (P = 0.000), with the middle group having the longest distance, and the bottom group having the shortest distance. This finding can help clinicians and surgeons avoid iatrogenic injuries of neural structures during thoracic spine surgery, or when performing nerve blocks in the paravertebral space.
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Acknowledgements
We wish to thank Mr. Darryl R. Warner, chief college laboratory technician, for his expertise and assistance. We also wish to thank Dr. Michael J. Flory for his statistical expertise and guidance. We also wish to thank Mr. David Fisher for his artistic work. Lastly, we wish to thank the individuals who generously donated their bodies for the advancement of science and patient care.
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D’Antoni, A.V., Collin, P.G., Graham, R.A. et al. Surgical relevance of the lateral costotransverse ligament in relation to the dorsal root ganglion. Anat Sci Int 93, 108–113 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-016-0381-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12565-016-0381-7