Relationship between the benefits of paraspinal mapping and diffusion tensor imaging and the increase of decompression levels determined by conventional magnetic resonance imaging in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis

Table 1 Averages FA values of levels (all levels were considered to be surgical decompression determined only by conventional MRI) and level number

Reference FA values^a (n)			Positive^c FA values (n)			Negative FA values^b (n)
Cauda equinas (n)	Left nerve roots (n)	Right nerve roots (n)	Cauda equinas (n)	Left nerve roots (n)	Right nerve roots (n)	Cauda equinas (n)	Left nerve roots (n)	Right nerve roots (n)
0.434 ± 0.029 (80)	0.468 ± 0.030 (80)	0.474 ± 0.023 (80)	0.302 ± 0.028 (134)	0.317 ± 0.025 (25)	0.317 ± 0.029 (26)	0.428 ± 0.038 (93)	0.472 ± 0.043 (93)	0.489 ± 0.047 (93)

FA fractional anisotropy
^aThe reference FA values were measured by L1 levels in 76 patients, while in 4 patients, replaced by L2 levels, because of narrow
^bAll the negative FA values were considered only nerve roots and/or cauda equinas in the negative levels
^cIf the narrow level FA value decreased ≥ 0.1 than the reference, the level was positive

ISSN: 1749-799X