About this trial
Tuffier's line is commonly used as a landmark for estimating lumbar vertebral levels during spinal anesthesia. However, its accuracy can vary depending on factors such as age, sex, BMI, and posture. This study evaluates the consistency of an alternative landmark, the "ASIS line" (a line connecting both Anterior Superior Iliac Spines), for identifying lumbar levels in the lateral decubitus position. Researchers will mark both the ASIS line and Tuffier's line on participants and use ultrasound to verify the exact vertebral level where each line crosses the spine. The goal is to determine if the ASIS line provides a more consistent and reliable estimation of lumbar levels compared to Tuffier's line.
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Adults aged 18 to 85 years
Patients scheduled for spinal anesthesia or lumbar ultrasound
Participants who voluntarily agreed to participate and provided written informed consent
Disqualifiers
History of spinal surgery or spinal deformity
Infection or wounds at the puncture site
Inability to maintain the lateral decubitus position
Congenital lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (e.g., sacralized L5 or lumbarized S1)
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Lumbar Ultrasound & Palpation