Abstract
Objective: To establish the anatomy of the iliolumbar vein.
Design: Prosections of human cadavers were examined.
Subjects: Sixteen iliolumbar veins in eight cadavers. Outcome measures: Width, length, pattern of drainage, tributaries, distance from IVC to the iho lumbar vein, structures drained and immediate relations. The risk of avulsion on great vessel retraction to expose the L4/L5 disc.
Results: Two variants encountered; a single vein an average 3.74cms from the IVC (11/16), or two stems, an average of 2.98cms to the proximal and 6.04cms to the distal (5/16). All 16 veins tore on great vessel retraction. In all veins the obturator nerve was found to cross superficially an average 2.76cms lateral to the mouth, in four cases, the actual distance was less than 1.5cms. In 15 veins the lumbosacral trunk crossed deep, in one superficial. The average distance from the mouth was 2.5 cms, in three veins the actual distance was 1cm or less.
Conclusion: This study confirms variability in the vein with vulnerability to avulsion on retraction of the great vessels. The close relationship with the obturator nerve and lumbosacral trunk further emphasise the need for proper exposure of the vein prior to ligature and safe surgical exposure of the anterior lumbar spine. Other findings are also presented.
Abstracts prepared by Mr. A. J. Stirling, FRCS, and Miss A. Weaver. Correspondence should be addressed to Miss A. Weaver at the Research and Teaching Centre, Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK
BritSpine 2002, the second combined meeting of the British Association of Spinal Surgeons, the British Cervical Spine Society, The British Scoliosis Society and the Society for Back Pain Research, took place at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham UK between 27th February and 1st March 2002. The following presentations and posters were given and displayed.
