Ligamental compartments and their relation to the passing spinal nerves are detectable with MRI inside the lumbar neural foramina.
Dina WiersbickiAnna VölkerChristoph-Eckhard HeydeHanno SteinkePublished in: European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society (2019)
Manual dissection seems to be inappropriate for a detailed study of the IFL. The lateral and intermedial compartments being free of the SN may transmit power and protect the SN, while the thin medial IFL may lead the SN passing the NF under physiological conditions. We conclude from the close topographical relation that the IFL may be relevant in foraminal stenosis. Any herniation in the NF presses IFL to the SN. Therefore, we think the IFL themselves could cause neurogenic claudication in case of their non-physiological turnover. Visualisation of IFL seems to be possible by using MRI. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.