# CT, MR AND CRYOMICROTOMIC STUDY OF SPINE ANATOMY

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · 1992 · $182,728

## Abstract

While 35 million Americans suffer from back pain, CT and MR are effective
in diagnosing only a fraction of cases of back pain and sciatica.
Painful conditions of the disc and facet joints, and some cases of
central and lateral spinal stenosis are likely underdiagnosed by
conventional CT, MR and radiographic studies.  The aims of this project
have been to improve the diagnostic usefulness of CT and MR by means of
precise anatomic/tomographic correlations.  The correlations have
identified signs by which various defects in the anulus fibrous, nucleus
pulposus, ligamentum flavum and facet joints can be demonstrated with
tomographic imaging.  The most valuable contribution of the work to date,
according to previous reviews, was the use of biomechanical techniques to
model the changes produced in the spinal canal and neural foramina by
loads and stresses that may be produced by normal activities.  The
hypothesis of this study is that central and lateral spinal stenosis are
underestimated in CT and MR because patients are recumbent during the
acquisition of the images.  We propose in the renewal to model extension,
flexion, lateral bending and rotation of the spine in cadaveric
specimens.  Loads will be applied with biomechanical techniques to the
spine to simulate movement of the spine, displacements will be measured
with kinematic techniques, and changes in anatomic relationships of the
discs, facet joints, ligamentum flavum, transforaminal ligaments, and
nerve roots will be studied by means of CT, MR, and cryomicrotomy.  The
loads and displacements and anatomic situations which result in spinal
stenosis will be identified.  The study is likely to provide information
on the causes of radiculopathy.  Except in our studies of the spinal
canal and neural foramen, the transforaminal ligaments, which reduce the
space available for the spinal nerves, have been disregarded.
Specifically, patho-anatomic changes in the neural foramina and spinal
canal will be identified in which stresses such as upright position,
weight bearing, and other activities may critically narrow the neural
foramina or affect spinal nerves.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156621
- **Project number:** 2R01AR033667-05A3
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN
- **SAM.gov UEI:** E8VWJXMMUQ67
- **Principal Investigator:** VICTOR M HAUGHTON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $182,728
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1986-04-01 → 1996-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156621

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156621, CT, MR AND CRYOMICROTOMIC STUDY OF SPINE ANATOMY (2R01AR033667-05A3). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156621. Licensed CC0.

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