[MORPHO-FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF KIMMERLE ANOMALY]

Area of Science:

• Anatomical variations
• Vascular imaging
• Neurology

Background:

• Kimmerle anomaly is a congenital condition affecting the atlas (C1 vertebra).
• It involves variations in the atlas's posterior arch, potentially impacting surrounding structures.
• Understanding its prevalence and clinical significance is crucial for neurological and vascular assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of Kimmerle anomaly using various imaging modalities.
• To investigate the association between Kimmerle anomaly and vertebral artery blood flow.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different diagnostic methods for detecting this anomaly.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 105 atlas bone preparations.
• Review of 100 cervical spine radiographs.
• Examination of 650 spiral computed tomography (SCT) scans.
• Assessment of 224 duplex ultrasound scans (extracranial and transcranial).

Main Results:

• Kimmerle anomaly detected in 18% of bone samples, 17% of SCT scans, and 15% of radiological exams.
• The anomaly is typically unilateral and can be medial or lateral.
• Vertebral artery canals were more frequently closed than open.
• Hemodynamically significant vertebral artery asymmetry found in 78.5% of patients with Kimmerle anomaly.

Conclusions:

• Spiral computed tomography (SCT) with contrast-enhanced artery imaging is highly effective for detecting Kimmerle anomaly.
• Multiple imaging methods provide comprehensive data on morphological and functional aspects of atlas abnormalities.
• Kimmerle anomaly is associated with significant vertebral artery blood flow alterations.