Skip to content
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Kambin’s Triangle or Prism

Dr. Sulabh Kumar Shrestha, MS Orthopedics, Apr 10, 2025Apr 10, 2025

There is confusion regarding the borders of Kambin’s triangle across the literature.

Kambin originally described the borders of this triangular working zone as:

  1. Anterior: Exiting nerve root
  2. Inferior: Proximal end plate of lower lumbar vertebra
  3. Posterior: Superior articular process of lower vertebra
  4. Medial: Traversing nerve root and dural sac

Though it was named as a “triangle” it was described with 4 borders with 2 triangles (in AP view and Lateral view) which gives a 3D structure more appropriately a “prism”.

Kambin's triangle AP view
Biswas, Rajasree & Choudhury, Arpita & Bhattacharya, Dipasri & Nandy, Sabyasachi. (2021). A comparative evaluation of kambin’s triangle approach versus safe triangle approach for lumbar transforaminal epidural injection in patients with lumbar radiculopathy – A prospective, randomized, double blind study. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences. 12. 41-47. 10.3126/ajms.v12i8.36339. [CC BY 4.0]
Kambin's triangle lateral view
Waguia R, Gupta N, Gamel KL, Ukachukwu A. Current and Future Applications of the Kambin’s Triangle in Lumbar Spine Surgery. Cureus. 2022 Jun 6;14(6):e25686. doi: 10.7759/cureus.25686. PMID: 35812644; PMCID: PMC9259071. [CC BY 3.0]

Uses of Kambin’s triangle:

Kambin’s triangle is regarded as a “safe” space because it is devoid of important neurovascular structures. It is an anatomical corridor useful in:

  1. Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection (TFESI)
  2. Diagnostic discograms
  3. Access disc space in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF)
  4. Access disc space in Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy (PELD)

Reference: Kambin’s triangle: definition and new classification schema in: Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine Volume 32 Issue 3 (2019) Journals

dr. sulabh kumar shrestha
Dr. Sulabh Kumar Shrestha, MS Orthopedics

He is the section editor of Orthopedics in Epomedicine. He searches for and share simpler ways to make complicated medical topics simple. He also loves writing poetry, listening and playing music. He is currently pursuing Fellowship in Hip, Pelvi-acetabulum and Arthroplasty at B&B Hospital.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS AnatomyAnesthesiaNervous systemOrthopedics

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Related Posts

PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS macrophage

Tissue Specific and Named Macrophages

Jan 17, 2017Jan 19, 2017

Subtle differences in the morphology and functions of macrophages develop as a result of the influence of a particular microenvironment. Appearance of macrophages to histologists have been described as a kind of mythological Proteus, “a creature who had the power of changing his appearance at will”. The life-span of these fixed…

Read More
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS

Peptic Ulcer (Johnson) Classification

Sep 30, 2023Sep 30, 2023

Mnemonic: 1. 1 is Less 2. 2 is Two 3. 3 is Pre- 4. 4 is Door 5. 5 is 5 letter (NSAID) Type Mnemonic Location Acid hypersecretion Complications Surgery I (55%) Less Lesser curvature No Bleeding uncommon Distal gastrectomy with BI, BII or RY GJ anastomosis II (20%) Two…

Read More
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS Cerebral cortex layers microanatomy

Cerebral Cortex Layers (Microanatomy) Simplified

Jul 30, 2016Jul 30, 2016

The neocortex have 6 layers and allocortex have only 3 layers. The 6 layers of Neocortex: Orientation of layers: Outer: Towards meaninges Inner: Towards white matter Idea about the layers: Molecular or plexiform: Only cell processes Granular layer: Densely packed stellate cells Pyramidal layer: Medium and Large pyramidal cells Multiform…

Read More

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Shrestha SK. Kambin’s Triangle or Prism [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2025 Apr 10 [cited 2026 Aug 20]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/kambins-triangle-or-prism/.

Pre-clinical (Basic Sciences)

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Community medicine (PSM)

Embryology

Microbiology

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Clinical Sciences

Anesthesia

Dermatology

Emergency medicine

Forensic

Internal medicine

Gynecology & Obstetrics

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopedics

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Radiology

Surgery

RSS feed: Ask Epomedicine Ask Epomedicine

  • What to study for Clinical examination in Orthopedics?
  • What is the mechanism of AVNRT?

Epomedicine weekly

  • About Epomedicine
  • Contact Us
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit Article
  • Editorial Board
  • USMLE
  • MRCS
  • Thesis
©2026 Epomedicine | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes