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Variation in the human cervical neural canal
1Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Ohio University, 149 Bentley Annex, Athens, OH 45701, USA. tatarek@ohio.edu
The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society
|November 18, 2005
Summary
Cervical spinal canal dimensions vary significantly by sex and ancestry. These findings highlight the need for personalized definitions of spinal stenosis, considering individual biological differences for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Anthropology
- Anatomy
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Cervical spinal canal dimensions influence neck injury outcomes.
- Radiographic studies are common, but skeletal analyses offer unique insights without soft tissue.
- Understanding canal variation is crucial for injury assessment and recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze variations in cervical neural canal diameters (anterior-posterior and transverse).
- Examine differences based on sex and ancestry.
- Define cervical canal narrowing within the studied skeletal sample.
Main Methods:
- Observational study of 321 individual skeletons.
- Measured anterior-posterior (sagittal) and transverse diameters of the cervical neural canal.
- Compared measurements between sexes and ancestral groups.
Main Results:
- Cervical canal narrowing varied by ancestry (C4 for African-Americans, C6 for Caucasians).
- Transverse diameter was narrowest at C2/C3 across all groups.
- Sexual dimorphism and ancestry were significant factors in canal dimensions.
Conclusions:
- Significant variations in cervical canal dimensions exist.
- Universal definitions for spinal stenosis are inadequate.
- Stenosis definitions should be sex- and ancestry-specific.