Accessory articulation of cervical vertebral transverse process: a rare case

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Radiology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Cervical vertebrae exhibit numerous anatomical variants with potential clinical significance.
• Accessory articulations are rare anomalies of spinal development.

Observation:

• A 35-year-old female presented with intermittent neck pain.
• Initial X-rays showed subtle osteophytic lipping, prompting further investigation.
• CT scan revealed an accessory articulation between the C4 and C5 right transverse processes.

Findings:

• The case presents an extremely rare anatomical variant: an accessory articulation of the C4-C5 right transverse processes.
• CT imaging proved superior to X-ray in identifying this subtle anomaly.
• This finding is novel, with no prior documented cases of C4-C5 accessory articulations in the literature.

Implications:

• Accurate identification of rare cervical spine variants is essential for appropriate patient management.
• CT imaging is vital for diagnosing subtle anomalies like accessory articulations.
• This case expands the known spectrum of cervical spine anatomical variations.