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Cervical pedicle agenesis: case report and bibliographic review
A J Sarotto1, J Rosado Pardo1, S Fossa Riglos1
1Members of the Spine Division, Orthopedic Section of Carlos G. Durand Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Insights
Posterior arch defects of the cervical spine are rare developmental abnormalities. Awareness is crucial for surgeons to prevent misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, especially in trauma cases.
Area of Science:
- Spinal Anatomy
- Developmental Biology
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Posterior arch defects of the cervical spine are rare congenital malformations.
- These defects result from abnormal intrauterine development (4-8 weeks gestation).
- Prevalence ranges from clefts (4%) to total agenesis (0.15%), with pedicle agenesis common at C6.
Abstract:
The posterior arch defects of the cervical spine are rare, and they arise out of deviations of the normal intrauterine development of the spine (4-8 weeks of development). The defects range from a cleft to the total agenesis of the posterior arch, with a reported prevalence of 4% and 0.15%, respectively. The pedicle agenesis is most frequently found in C6. A diagnosis is usually made after a traumatic incident in a previously asymptomatic patient. 35% of a patient's current symptoms are associated with instability or translation of the impaired vertebral segments like headaches, chronic pain, and neurological impairment. The clinical and radiological findings of a patient with an unusual and complex cervical spine malformation are reported. These are rare entities and seldom require surgical treatment. It is imperative for spine surgeons to be aware of these anatomical abnormalities to avoid misinterpretation and thus inappropriate treatment, particularly in acute trauma patients.
