Morphometric Analysis of Subaxial Cervical Vertebra Pedicles in the Turkish Population

One of the surgical interventions applied in the cervical region is the pedicle screw method. The cervical pedicle screw is stronger than any other screw method; however, use of the cervical pedicle screw is limited due to the variability in the anatomy of the cervical vertebrae and the risks to the neurological and vascular structures in this region. This study aimed to determine the morphological features of subaxial cervical vertebrae of the adult Turkish population and to provide guidance for the pedicle screwing method.

In our study, pedicle analyses were examined in the subaxial neck vertebrae of a total of 60 patients, 30 male and 30 female, using computed tomography images. In subaxial vertebrae (C3-C7), bilateral pedicle width, pedicle axis length, pedicle transverse angle, sagittal and transverse diameter of vertebral foramen, and the distance between two pedicles were measured.

Pedicle widths that did not fit the commonly used 3.5 mm pedicle screw were detected in both male and female patients. The mean bilateral pedicle width in male patients was found to be greater than in female patients. When the parameter results were compared according to the levels, it was found that the pedicle width, pedicle axis length, transverse diameter, and the distance between the two pedicles increased statistically significantly.

We think that the data obtained from the study will help determine the appropriate screwing (screw selection) in subaxial vertebra pedicle surgery and increase the success of the surgical procedure.