Clinical implications morphometric study of the cervical spine on MRI

Abstract

Degenerative changes, history of trauma or inflammation usually progressed to cervical spinal canal stenosis. This condition leads to cervical spondylosis neuropraxia and cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). SAC (space available for the cord) value is important to understand the symptoms of spinal cord compression in cervical canal stenosis. The aim of our study is to establish cervical spinal canal morphometry in Western Maharashtra population observed by MRI of cervical region. 70 subjects aged between 18- 70 years. The sagittal vertebral body diameter, the sagittal spinal canal diameter and the sagittal spinal-cord diameter were measured at the C3 - C7 level. The SAC was determined. For each variable a two-way ANOVA was performed, sagittal canal diameter, sagittal spinal cord diameter and SAC were significant with p-value P< 0.0001**. Mean vertebral body diameters observed were 1.49-1.51. Values of SAC observed were C3-1.5 cm, C4- 1.51cm, C5- 1.49cm, C6- 1.5cm, C7- 1.49cm. Average sagittal spinal canal diameter from C3-C7 was 14.1± 1.3 mm. The range of SAC was between 6.4-9.5mm, least at the C5 level. We conclude that subjects in our study do not have an increased risk of spinal cord compression.