Abstract:Objective:To observe the ultrasound imaging of crowd lumbar spinal at the different ages. Methods:Ultrasound imaging of vertebral column were performed in 122 healthy men who were divided into four groups based on age,teenagers group(groupⅠ,12 ~ 18 y),youth group (groupⅡ,19 ~ 39 y),middle-aged group (groupⅢ,40 ~ 59 y ) and the elderly group (groupⅣ,≥ 60y). A longitudinal paramedian scan of the lumbar spine was performed to locate the L3/L4 lumbar interspace and acquire ultrasound imaging include ligamentum flavum,epidural space,posterior dura,intrathecal space,cauda equine,pulsations of the cauda equina and other related neuraxial structures. A four point numerical scales classification was used to evaluate the image quality after scanning. Results:Total ultrasound visibility score were (24.8 ± 1.6) score of group Ⅰ;(18.5 ± 4.8) score of group Ⅱ;(14.0 ± 2.8) score of group Ⅲ;(10.3 ± 2.9) score of group Ⅳ. There were significant differences among 4 groups (P < 0.01) . With age increasd,imaging score decreased obviously. No difference existed in the ultrasonic imaging score of ligamentum flavum,interlaminar space,posterior dura,epidural space and pulsations of the cauda equina between group Ⅲ and group Ⅳ(P > 0.05),but scores of intrathecal space,cauda equina,equina,and anterior dura-posterior longitudinal ligament complex in group Ⅳ were lower than those of group Ⅲ(P < 0.05). Conclusion:There are significant differences in ultrasound imaging of vertebral column among different age groups. With the age growth,ultrasonic imaging quality decreased obviously. The ultrasonic imaging quality differences were not significant between middle age group and old group,and there is no obvious difference in partial structures between these two group.