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Updated: Aug 23, 2025
Precision Measurements and Parametric Models of Vertebral Endplates
Published on: September 17, 2019
Sagittal Plane Geometry of Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Endplates
Rangel Roberto de Assis1, Marcello Nogueira Barbosa2, Helton L A Defino3
1Department of Orthopedics and Anesthesiology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School - Sao Paulo University, São Paulo, Brazil rangelrassis@gmail.com.
Background:
Many studies have emphasized the importance of interface contact between implants and the vertebral endplate (VE). The goal of this study was to analyze the shape and other specific parameters of the VE to provide reference data for better implant interface contact in intervertebral disc space procedures.
Methods:
Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine midsagittal plane magnetic resonance images of 100 adults (58 women) were analyzed. The morphology of the VEs was classified as concave, convex, flat, or irregular. Midsagittal endplate length (ML), endplate concavity depth (ECD), and endplate concavity axis (ECA) location were measured in the midsagittal plane. The parameters were compared between the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines and between the sexes.
Results:
The VE morphology, ML, ECD, and ECA showed variations along the spine, mainly in the cervical and lower lumbar spines. The sagittal geometry of the VE was not flat or uniform along the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines. Different morphological types were observed along different spinal segments and according to sex. In the cervical spine, the majority of cranial VEs were flat, while caudal VEs were mostly concave.
Conclusion:
Sagittal VE geometry should be taken into consideration during the use of intervertebral cages or disc arthroplasty.
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