Review Question - QID 967

The Torg ratio is the ratio of the spinal canal/vertebral body. Torg and Pavlov stated that a ratio under 0.8 corresponded to severe spinal stenosis. However, subsequent studies have shown the incidence of spinal stenosis (using a Torg ratio of 0.8 as a definition) to be 49% in asymptomatic professional football players. Kim et al also found that the presence of an abnormal Torg ratio does not appear to be predictive of future spinal cord injury.

Ladd and Scranton argue that spinal stenosis cannot be defined by bone measurements alone; they claim “functional” spinal stenosis is more accurately defined as a loss of the CSF around the cord or deformation of the spinal cord documented by CT myelography or MRI. Cantu advises that in the setting of “functional” spinal stenosis, a return to contact or collision sports should be contraindicated. Kim et al argue that athletes sustaining multiple episodes of transient quadriparesis or bilateral extremity symptoms with MRI evidence of cord injury should be advised to avoid contact/collision sports.