Mechanical properties of the human lumbar dura mater

Zarzur, Edmundo

doi:10.1590/S0004-282X1996000300015

Abstracts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the transverse and longitudinal distensibility of the posterior human lumbar dura mater. Results are compared with previous literature on biomechanical property studies. Possible clinical implications were also examined. METHODS:Samples of human dural sac were obtained from autopsy studies in three adult male cadavers. Dural sac samples were sectioned longitudinally to measure transverse and longitudinal distensibility, thickness and circumference. RESULTS:It was recorded that the posterior lumbar dura mater was easily distensible only in the transverse direction. The longitudinal force required to distend and rupture the posterior lumbar dura mater samples is 3.5 to 6.7 times greater than the force to produce a transversal rupture. CONCLUSION: Depending on the local cerebrospinal fluid pressure, the documented easier transverse distensibility of the posterior lumbar dura mater may allow greater contact of the lumbar dural sac with the wall of the lumbar verterbral canal. This fact may affect the diffusion of solutions introduced into epidural space.

dura mater; distensibility thickness; load at rupture; modulus of elasticity; strain at rupture

Este estudo procura avaliar as distensibilidades transversal e longitudinal da dura máter lombar na sua porção posterior. Os resultados são comparados com os de outras investigações publicadas sobre as propriedades biomecânicas da dura máter. MÉTODOS: Amostras de dura máter foram obtidas de autópsias realizadas em três cadáveres de homens adultos. As amostras do saco dural foram secionadas longitudinalmente para permitir as seguintes medições: distensibilidade transversal e longitudinal, espessura da dura máter e circunferência do saco dural. RESULTADOS:Foi constatado que a dura máter lombar na sua porção posterior é facilmente distensível. Para distender e romper longitudinalmente esta mesma dura máter, necessita-se de 3,5 a 6,7 vezes mais força do que a necessária para a sua distensão e rompimento na direção transversal. CONCLUSÃO:Dependendo da pressão do líquido cefalorraqueano, a fácil distensibilidade transversal da dura máter possibilita maior contato do saco dural lombar com a parede do canal vertebral. Este fato pode influir na difusão das soluções introduzidas no espaço peridural.

dura máter; distensibilidade; espessura; força para rompimento; módulo de elasticidade

Mechanical properties of the human lumbar dura mater

Propriedades mecânicas da dura máter lombar humana

Edmundo Zarzur

MD

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the transverse and longitudinal distensibility of the posterior human lumbar dura mater. Results are compared with previous literature on biomechanical property studies. Possible clinical implications were also examined.

METHODS:Samples of human dural sac were obtained from autopsy studies in three adult male cadavers. Dural sac samples were sectioned longitudinally to measure transverse and longitudinal distensibility, thickness and circumference.

RESULTS:It was recorded that the posterior lumbar dura mater was easily distensible only in the transverse direction. The longitudinal force required to distend and rupture the posterior lumbar dura mater samples is 3.5 to 6.7 times greater than the force to produce a transversal rupture.

CONCLUSION: Depending on the local cerebrospinal fluid pressure, the documented easier transverse distensibility of the posterior lumbar dura mater may allow greater contact of the lumbar dural sac with the wall of the lumbar verterbral canal. This fact may affect the diffusion of solutions introduced into epidural space.

Key words:dura mater, distensibility thickness, load at rupture, modulus of elasticity, strain at rupture.

RESUMO

Este estudo procura avaliar as distensibilidades transversal e longitudinal da dura máter lombar na sua porção posterior. Os resultados são comparados com os de outras investigações publicadas sobre as propriedades biomecânicas da dura máter.

MÉTODOS: Amostras de dura máter foram obtidas de autópsias realizadas em três cadáveres de homens adultos. As amostras do saco dural foram secionadas longitudinalmente para permitir as seguintes medições: distensibilidade transversal e longitudinal, espessura da dura máter e circunferência do saco dural.

RESULTADOS:Foi constatado que a dura máter lombar na sua porção posterior é facilmente distensível. Para distender e romper longitudinalmente esta mesma dura máter, necessita-se de 3,5 a 6,7 vezes mais força do que a necessária para a sua distensão e rompimento na direção transversal.

CONCLUSÃO:Dependendo da pressão do líquido cefalorraqueano, a fácil distensibilidade transversal da dura máter possibilita maior contato do saco dural lombar com a parede do canal vertebral. Este fato pode influir na difusão das soluções introduzidas no espaço peridural.

Palavras-chave: dura máter, distensibilidade, espessura, força para rompimento, módulo de elasticidade.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Full text available only in PDF format.

Acknowledgements - The author is thankful to Tomaz Pugas Leivas for his technical assistance in the mechanical assays and statistical analysis. The author is also thankful to Armando Fortuna, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology of the Hospital Beneficiência Portuguesa in Santos, São Paulo State and Dr. Flávio Aloe for his helpful assistance and suggestions in preparing this manuscript.

Aceite:3-maio-1996.

This study has been carried out at the Department of Pathology and in the Biomechanics Laboratory of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Institute (LIM 4) of the University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo City, Brazil and it was approved by the Committee on Human Ethics and Research. This investigation has been presented in part in the First Pan American Symposium on Regional Anesthesia, São Paulo, Brazil in March 4-6, 1993.

Dr. Edmundo Zarzur - Rua Ziembinski 314 - 05086-020 São Paulo SP - Brasil.

1. Beard SC, Jackson A, Griffths AG, Horsman EL. Magnetic resonance imaging of extradural blood patches: appearances from 30 minutes to 18 hours. Br J Anaesth 1993;71:182-188.
2. Burn JM, Guyer PB, Langdon L. The spread of solutions injected into epidural space: a study using epidurograms in patients with the lumbosciatic syndrome. Br J Anaesth 1973;45:338-344.
3. Evans FT, Gray TC. General anaesthesia. London: Hazzell Watson & Viney, 1965:273.
4. Fink BR, Walker S. Orientation of fibers in human dorsal lumbar dura mater in relation to lumbar puncture. Anesth Analg 1989;69:768-772.
5. Griffiths AG, Beards SC, Jackson A, Horsman EL. Visualization of extradural blood patch for post lumbar headache by magnetic resonance imaging. Br J Anaesth 1993;70:223-225.
6. Hogan QH. Lumbar epidural anatomy: anew look by cryomicrotome section. Anesthesiology 1991 ;75:767-775.
7. Merry AF, Cross JA, Mayadeo SV, Wild CJ. Posture and the spread of extradural analgesia in labour. Br J Anesth 1983;85:303-306.
8. Nackemson AL. Some mechanical properties of the third human lumbar interlaminar ligament (ligamentum flavum). J Biomechanics 1968; 1:211 -221.
9. Nakagawa H, Mikawa Y, Watanabe R. Elastin in the human posterior longitudinal ligament and spinal dura: a histologic and biomechanics study. Spine 1994; 1:2164-2169
10. Patin DJ, Eckstein EC, Harum K, Pallares VS. Anatomic and biochemical properties of human lumbar dura mater. Anesth Analg 1993;76:535-540.
11. Postacchini F, Pezzeri G, Montanaro A, Natali G. Computerized tomography in lumbar stenosis: a preliminary report. J Bone Joint Surg 1980;62-B:78-82.
12. Shah JL. Influence of cerebrospinal fluid on epidural pressure. Anaesthesia 1981;36:627-631.
13. Shah JL. Positive lumbar extradural space pressure. Brit J Anaesth 1994;73:309-314.
14. Spina-França A. Variações fisiológicas da pressão de líquido cefaloiraqueano na cisterna magna. Arq de Neuropsiquiatr 1963;21:19-24.
15. Watanabe S, Yamaguchi Y, Ishizawa Y. Level of spinal anesthesia can be predicted by cerebrospinal fluid pressure difference between full-flexed and non-full-flexed lateral position. Anesth Analg 1991 ;73:391 -393.
16. Zarzur E. Anatomic studies of the human ligamentum flavum. Anesth Analg 1984,63:499-502
17. Zarzur E. Some mechanical properties of the human spinal dura mater. Reg Anesth 1993; 18(Suppl): 1S26.
18. Zarzur E. The shape of the human lumbar vertebral canal. Reg Anesth 1993; 18:(Suppl): 1S27.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
10 Nov 2010
Date of issue
Sept 1996

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Beard SC, Jackson A, Griffths AG, Horsman EL. Magnetic resonance imaging of extradural blood patches: appearances from 30 minutes to 18 hours. Br J Anaesth 1993;71:182-188.

[2] 2. Burn JM, Guyer PB, Langdon L. The spread of solutions injected into epidural space: a study using epidurograms in patients with the lumbosciatic syndrome. Br J Anaesth 1973;45:338-344.

[3] 3. Evans FT, Gray TC. General anaesthesia. London: Hazzell Watson & Viney, 1965:273.

[4] 4. Fink BR, Walker S. Orientation of fibers in human dorsal lumbar dura mater in relation to lumbar puncture. Anesth Analg 1989;69:768-772.

[5] 5. Griffiths AG, Beards SC, Jackson A, Horsman EL. Visualization of extradural blood patch for post lumbar headache by magnetic resonance imaging. Br J Anaesth 1993;70:223-225.

[6] 6. Hogan QH. Lumbar epidural anatomy: anew look by cryomicrotome section. Anesthesiology 1991 ;75:767-775.

[7] 7. Merry AF, Cross JA, Mayadeo SV, Wild CJ. Posture and the spread of extradural analgesia in labour. Br J Anesth 1983;85:303-306.

[8] 8. Nackemson AL. Some mechanical properties of the third human lumbar interlaminar ligament (ligamentum flavum). J Biomechanics 1968; 1:211 -221.

[9] 9. Nakagawa H, Mikawa Y, Watanabe R. Elastin in the human posterior longitudinal ligament and spinal dura: a histologic and biomechanics study. Spine 1994; 1:2164-2169

[10] 10. Patin DJ, Eckstein EC, Harum K, Pallares VS. Anatomic and biochemical properties of human lumbar dura mater. Anesth Analg 1993;76:535-540.

[11] 11. Postacchini F, Pezzeri G, Montanaro A, Natali G. Computerized tomography in lumbar stenosis: a preliminary report. J Bone Joint Surg 1980;62-B:78-82.

[12] 12. Shah JL. Influence of cerebrospinal fluid on epidural pressure. Anaesthesia 1981;36:627-631.

[13] 13. Shah JL. Positive lumbar extradural space pressure. Brit J Anaesth 1994;73:309-314.

[14] 14. Spina-França A. Variações fisiológicas da pressão de líquido cefaloiraqueano na cisterna magna. Arq de Neuropsiquiatr 1963;21:19-24.

[15] 15. Watanabe S, Yamaguchi Y, Ishizawa Y. Level of spinal anesthesia can be predicted by cerebrospinal fluid pressure difference between full-flexed and non-full-flexed lateral position. Anesth Analg 1991 ;73:391 -393.

[16] 16. Zarzur E. Anatomic studies of the human ligamentum flavum. Anesth Analg 1984,63:499-502

[17] 17. Zarzur E. Some mechanical properties of the human spinal dura mater. Reg Anesth 1993; 18(Suppl): 1S26.

[18] 18. Zarzur E. The shape of the human lumbar vertebral canal. Reg Anesth 1993; 18:(Suppl): 1S27.