Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 25, 2025
10:35
Precision Measurements and Parametric Models of Vertebral Endplates
Published on: September 17, 2019
6.6K
Bone Density Distribution in the Cervical Spine
Francis Lovecchio1, Bryan Ang1, Philip K Louie2
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA.
Global Spine Journal
|April 29, 2022
Summary
Cervical spine bone density varies by level, with lower bone density in the lower cervical spine. Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements are unreliable in the lateral masses, necessitating a level-specific approach for surgical planning.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Neurosurgery
- Radiology
Background:
- Degenerative spine disease alters bone density, making general bone health measures like DEXA insufficient for surgical planning.
- Regional variations in cervical spine Hounsfield units (HU) may impact surgical strategies.
- Understanding cervical bone density is crucial for optimizing surgical approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if cervical spine Hounsfield units (HU) vary by vertebral level.
- To examine the relationship between HU, age, comorbidities, and spinal alignment.
- To propose a reliable method for measuring HU in the cervical lateral masses.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 224 patients with cervical computed tomography scans (2015-2019).
- Measurements of HU in vertebral bodies (C2-T1) and lateral masses (C3-C6).
- Inter-rater reliability assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC).
Main Results:
- Bone density, measured by HU, was significantly lower in the lower cervical spine (C6-T1).
- No significant correlations were found between lateral mass HU and age, BMI, CCI, or alignment.
- Vertebral body HU showed moderate correlations with age and CCI, and weak correlation with kyphosis.
Conclusions:
- Bone density is not uniform throughout the cervical spine, being lowest in the lower segments.
- Hounsfield unit (HU) measurements are unreliable in the lateral masses.
- A level-specific assessment of bone density is recommended for cervical spine surgical planning.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature
4.4K
The vertebral column or spine is a flexible column that supports the head, neck, and body and allows for their movements. It also protects the spinal cord.
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form...
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form...
4.4K
01:09Spongy Bone
5.6K
All bones comprise an outer layer of compact bone, and an interior made up of spongy bone tissue, also called cancellous or trabecular bone. In long bones, spongy bone tissue is mainly found in the interior of the epiphyses (broad ends of the bone).
Spongy bone is more porous, and less dense compared to compact bone. It is composed of concentric lamellae that are arranged irregularly to form the trabecular network. In some bones, the spaces between trabeculae contain red marrow, where...
Spongy bone is more porous, and less dense compared to compact bone. It is composed of concentric lamellae that are arranged irregularly to form the trabecular network. In some bones, the spaces between trabeculae contain red marrow, where...
5.6K
01:30General Structure of a Vertebra
3.7K
A typical vertebra, with the exception of the sacrum and coccyx, consists of a body, a vertebral arch, and seven different projections termed processes. The anterior portion of the vertebrae, the body, supports about half the body’s weight. The vertebral bodies progressively increase in size and thickness from the cervical region to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The intervertebral discs present between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae firmly unites them, forming a continuous...
3.7K
01:27Compact Bone
13.2K
Most bones contain compact and spongy osseous tissue, but their distribution and concentration vary based on the bone's overall function.
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
Compact bone, also called cortical bone, is the denser, stronger of the two types of bone tissue. It is found under the periosteum and in the diaphyses of long bones, where it provides support and protection. The microscopic structural unit of compact bone is called an osteon, or haversian system. Each osteon is composed of concentric rings of calcified...
13.2K
01:09Overview of the Axial Skeleton
6.5K
The skeleton is subdivided into two major divisions—the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton forms the vertical, central axis of the body. It includes all of the bones of the head, neck, chest, and back. It protects the brain, spinal cord, heart, and lungs. It also serves as the attachment site for muscles that move the head, neck, and back and for muscles that act across the shoulder and hip joints to move their corresponding limbs.
The axial skeleton of the...
The axial skeleton of the...
6.5K
01:16Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
2.5K
The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
2.5K