Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric Analysis

Study Design Radiological cohort study. Purpose The options of posteriorly stabilizing C7 vertebra include using lateral mass, pedicle or lamina, as bony anchors. The current study is a computed tomography (CT)-based morphometric analysis of C7 vertebra of 100 Indian patients and discusses the feasi...

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Main Authors: Vibhu Krishnan Viswanathan, Surabhi Subramanian, Sushma Viswanathan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Spine Society 2018-08-01
Series:Asian Spine Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2018-12-4-726.pdf
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author Vibhu Krishnan Viswanathan
Surabhi Subramanian
Sushma Viswanathan
author_facet Vibhu Krishnan Viswanathan
Surabhi Subramanian
Sushma Viswanathan
author_sort Vibhu Krishnan Viswanathan
collection DOAJ
description Study Design Radiological cohort study. Purpose The options of posteriorly stabilizing C7 vertebra include using lateral mass, pedicle or lamina, as bony anchors. The current study is a computed tomography (CT)-based morphometric analysis of C7 vertebra of 100 Indian patients and discusses the feasibility of these different techniques. Overview of Literature C7 is a peculiar vertebra with unique anatomy, which poses challenges for each of these fixation modalities. There are no reports available in the literature, which discuss and compare the feasibility of diverse posterior C7 fixation techniques in Indian population. Methods We included 100 consecutive cervical spine CT scans of Indian patients performed between July 2016 and September 2016. We excluded CT scans with any significant congenital anomaly or other pathological lesions of C7 and patients with non-Indian ethnicity. Regarding screw placement, we assessed and studied various dimensions of the C7 lateral mass, pedicles, and laminae in relevant sections. Results The mean age of our patients was 49.5±16.1 years. We included 56 male and 44 female patients. The mean anteroposterior and mediolateral dimensions of the lateral mass were 11.38±1.76 and 12.91±1.82 mm, respectively. The mean length of the lateral mass screw (Magerl technique) was 12.17±1.9 mm; 92% of patients could accommodate a lateral mass screw at least 10-mm long (unicortical), whereas 48% could accommodate a screw (unicortical) longer than 12 mm. Foramen transversarium was found in 30.5% of lateral masses. The mean outer and inner cortical widths of the pedicles were 6.5±0.71 mm and 3.72±0.61 mm, respectively. Approximately 58% of pedicles could accommodate 3.5-mm screws (based on the inner cortical pedicle width). The outer cortical and inner cortical widths of the laminae were 6.21±1.2 mm and 3.23±0.9 mm, respectively. Subsequently, 37% of the laminae could accommodate 3.5-mm screws. The mean angle of intralaminar screw trajectory was 50.7°±5.1°, and the mean length of the intralaminar screw was 32.6±3.05 mm. In addition, 96.4% and 60.7% of male patients could accommodate lateral mass screws longer than 10 mm and 12 mm, respectively. However, only 86.4% and 31.8% of female patients could accommodate 10- and 12-mm long lateral mass screws, respectively. Furthermore, 75% of male patients and 36% of female patients had pedicles that could accommodate 3.5-mm diameter screws, and 48.2% of male patients had laminae that could accommodate 3.5-mm screws; however, only 22.7% of female patients could accommodate 3.5-mm laminar screws. Conclusions Based on our CT-guided morphometric analysis, 92% and 48% of Indian patients could accommodate at least 10- and 12-mm long lateral mass screws, and 58% of pedicles and 37% of laminae could accommodate 3.5-mm screws. Thus, lateral mass screws (between 10- and 12-mm long) seem to be the safest feasible option for C7 fixation. In case of the need for an alternative mode of stabilization (pedicle or intralaminar screw), particularly in female patients, careful preoperative planning with a CT scan is of utmost importance.
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spelling doaj.art-4958391144dc48ccb6d914e641941e682022-12-22T00:25:22ZengKorean Spine SocietyAsian Spine Journal1976-19021976-78462018-08-0112472673310.31616/asj.2018.12.4.726919Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric AnalysisVibhu Krishnan Viswanathan0Surabhi Subramanian1Sushma Viswanathan2 Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA Department of Radiodiagnosis, Government Medical College and Hospital, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India Department of Mental Health, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, IndiaStudy Design Radiological cohort study. Purpose The options of posteriorly stabilizing C7 vertebra include using lateral mass, pedicle or lamina, as bony anchors. The current study is a computed tomography (CT)-based morphometric analysis of C7 vertebra of 100 Indian patients and discusses the feasibility of these different techniques. Overview of Literature C7 is a peculiar vertebra with unique anatomy, which poses challenges for each of these fixation modalities. There are no reports available in the literature, which discuss and compare the feasibility of diverse posterior C7 fixation techniques in Indian population. Methods We included 100 consecutive cervical spine CT scans of Indian patients performed between July 2016 and September 2016. We excluded CT scans with any significant congenital anomaly or other pathological lesions of C7 and patients with non-Indian ethnicity. Regarding screw placement, we assessed and studied various dimensions of the C7 lateral mass, pedicles, and laminae in relevant sections. Results The mean age of our patients was 49.5±16.1 years. We included 56 male and 44 female patients. The mean anteroposterior and mediolateral dimensions of the lateral mass were 11.38±1.76 and 12.91±1.82 mm, respectively. The mean length of the lateral mass screw (Magerl technique) was 12.17±1.9 mm; 92% of patients could accommodate a lateral mass screw at least 10-mm long (unicortical), whereas 48% could accommodate a screw (unicortical) longer than 12 mm. Foramen transversarium was found in 30.5% of lateral masses. The mean outer and inner cortical widths of the pedicles were 6.5±0.71 mm and 3.72±0.61 mm, respectively. Approximately 58% of pedicles could accommodate 3.5-mm screws (based on the inner cortical pedicle width). The outer cortical and inner cortical widths of the laminae were 6.21±1.2 mm and 3.23±0.9 mm, respectively. Subsequently, 37% of the laminae could accommodate 3.5-mm screws. The mean angle of intralaminar screw trajectory was 50.7°±5.1°, and the mean length of the intralaminar screw was 32.6±3.05 mm. In addition, 96.4% and 60.7% of male patients could accommodate lateral mass screws longer than 10 mm and 12 mm, respectively. However, only 86.4% and 31.8% of female patients could accommodate 10- and 12-mm long lateral mass screws, respectively. Furthermore, 75% of male patients and 36% of female patients had pedicles that could accommodate 3.5-mm diameter screws, and 48.2% of male patients had laminae that could accommodate 3.5-mm screws; however, only 22.7% of female patients could accommodate 3.5-mm laminar screws. Conclusions Based on our CT-guided morphometric analysis, 92% and 48% of Indian patients could accommodate at least 10- and 12-mm long lateral mass screws, and 58% of pedicles and 37% of laminae could accommodate 3.5-mm screws. Thus, lateral mass screws (between 10- and 12-mm long) seem to be the safest feasible option for C7 fixation. In case of the need for an alternative mode of stabilization (pedicle or intralaminar screw), particularly in female patients, careful preoperative planning with a CT scan is of utmost importance.http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2018-12-4-726.pdfCervical vertebraeCervicothoracic fusionVertebra stabilizationVertebral screwsPedicle screws
spellingShingle Vibhu Krishnan Viswanathan
Surabhi Subramanian
Sushma Viswanathan
Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric Analysis
Asian Spine Journal
Cervical vertebrae
Cervicothoracic fusion
Vertebra stabilization
Vertebral screws
Pedicle screws
title Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric Analysis
title_full Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric Analysis
title_fullStr Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric Analysis
title_short Comparison of Three Different Options for C7 Posterior Vertebral Anchor in the Indian Population—Lateral Mass, Pedicle, and Lamina: A Computed Tomography-Based Morphometric Analysis
title_sort comparison of three different options for c7 posterior vertebral anchor in the indian population lateral mass pedicle and lamina a computed tomography based morphometric analysis
topic Cervical vertebrae
Cervicothoracic fusion
Vertebra stabilization
Vertebral screws
Pedicle screws
url http://www.asianspinejournal.org/upload/pdf/asj-2018-12-4-726.pdf
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