Conus medullaris termination: Assessing safety of spinal anesthesia in the L2–L3 interspace
Authors' conclusion
Spinal anesthesia at the L2-L3 interspace, using TL as an anatomical landmark, is safe in >99% of patients.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with MRI of the spine (conus medullaris termination (CMT) level) and lumbar x-rays720 lumbar x-rays
- Participants
- 944 adults
- Outcome
- Percentage with conus medullaris termination (CMT) at or below the L1-L2 interspace
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
CMT at or below the L1-L2 interspace
CMT at or below the L1-L2 interspace
18.9%
Incidence of neuraxial risk with spinal anesthesia at L2-L3
0.7%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Predictors of CMT at or below L1-L2 (logistic regression)
- Only congenital spinal abnormalities significantly predictive
Tuffier's line (TL) corresponding to the L4-L5 interspace
- TL at L4-L5 in patients with lumbar x-rays
- 99.8%
Original publication
Conus medullaris termination: Assessing safety of spinal anesthesia in the L2–L3 interspace. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. Published 29 January 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →