Computerized tomographic morphometric analysis of the cervical spine

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate morphometry of the cervical canal and transverse foramens is crucial for disease understanding and surgical planning.
• Conventional radiography lacks the precision needed for detailed cervical spine analysis.
• Previous studies highlight limitations of lateral x-rays for cervical anatomy assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a retrospective morphometric study of the cervical canal and transverse foramens.
• To measure key dimensions including sagittal canal diameter (SCD), transverse foramen diameters (SFD, TFD), and distance between spinal canal and transverse foramens (dSC-TF).
• To establish normative data for cervical spine anatomy using CT scans.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of computerized tomographic (CT) scans from 100 emergency room patients.
• Measurement of sagittal canal diameter (SCD) for cervical levels C1-C7.
• Measurement of right and left transverse foramens' sagittal (SFD) and transverse (TFD) diameters, and minimum distance between spinal canal and transverse foramens (dSC-TF) for each level.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in SCD were observed between C1 and other cervical levels in both sexes.
• Significant differences in transverse foramen sagittal diameters were found at C3, C4, and C5 levels.
• Significant differences in transverse diameters were noted at C3 and C4, with asymmetry between left and right sides at C3.

Conclusions:

• CT scans offer superior accuracy for cervical spine morphometry compared to conventional radiography.
• Precise anatomical measurements from CT scans aid in diagnosis and preoperative planning.
• Improved understanding of cervical anatomy can help prevent trauma to vertebral arteries during surgical procedures.