Correlation between the Photographic Cranial Angles and Radiographic Cervical Spine Alignment

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cranial vertical angle (CVA) and cranial rotation angle (CRA) are clinically relevant photographic measurements of head and neck posture.
• Assessing cervical spine alignment is crucial for diagnosing and managing various musculoskeletal conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between photographic measurements (CVA and CRA) and radiographic assessments of cervical spine alignment.
• To determine the clinical utility of CVA and CRA in evaluating sagittal plane alignment of the cervical spine.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-six healthy volunteers underwent lateral photography and cervical spine radiography in a sitting position.
• CVA and CRA were measured from photographs.
• Cervical spine alignment parameters including C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), C2-7 lordosis, and occipito-C2 lordosis (O-C2) were measured from radiographs.

Main Results:

• A significant negative correlation was observed between CVA and SVA (ρ = −0.51; p < 0.05).
• Significant positive correlations were found between CVA and C2-7 lordosis (ρ = 0.59; p < 0.01) and between CRA and O-C2 lordosis (ρ = 0.65; p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Photographic CVA and CRA measurements show significant correlations with radiographic cervical spine alignment.
• These photographic methods may serve as valuable tools for assessing head and neck alignment in the sagittal plane.