The Impact of Patient-Specific Positions on the Relationship between Iliac Blood Vessels and Lumbar Intervertebral Discs: Anatomical Significance and Clinical Implications

Abstract

This study explores the anatomical relationship between iliac blood vessels and the lower lumbar spine during supine and prone patient positions. The average height of participants was 174.02 cm ± 9.01, while the average weight was 80.38 kg ± 13.48. Body mass index (BMI) analyses showed differences (p = 0.002), with 34.7% classified as normal weight, 53.1% as overweight, and 12.2% as moderately obese. The study examined the distances between iliac arteries and veins in relation to intervertebral anterior and posterior disc contours. Patient positioning significantly affected these measurements at both L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels. The findings highlight the critical influence of body position on anatomical relationships in the context of lower lumbar spine surgery. The study underscores the importance of preoperative awareness of vascular anatomy to prevent iatrogenic lesions during spine surgery, contributing valuable insights for optimizing surgical approaches and minimizing complications in spine surgery, particularly microdiscectomy.