ABSTRACT
Background: Native Foramine Transversaria [NFTs] has varions sizes and geometrical shapes
Objective: To assess the size and shape of native foramina transversaria in the cervical spine
Materials and Method: Study design: Descriptive observational study. Place and duration of study: Anatomy department, Sheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan and Wah Medical College, Wah Cantt., District Rawalpindi. Duration of this study was from 1[st] July 2012 to 30 June[th] 2014. The study included 45 sets of cervical spine [315 human cervical vertebrae]. Maximum and minimum mean values for the length and breadth of NFTs were measured by vernier calipers with accuracy of 0.01 mm. Size and shape of NFTs were assessed and analyzed
Results: The largest NFT was of C1, with mean length of 7.44 mm and breadth of 5.95 on right side, whereas smallest NFT was of C7 with mean length of 5.61 mm and breadth of 4.16 mm on right side. The rest of the NFTs showed measurement which fall between these readings. The frequency of different shapes possessing type 1 to 5 with number of all the NFTs was assessed. Type 3 was the most common [prevalent in NFTs of C3 and C4] and type 2 was least common [NFTs of C1]
Conclusion: The size of NFT is larger in our population. The NFTs possess variant sizes and geometrical shapes at different cervical levels, which may help in facilitating the preoperative planning and avoid possible trauma to its contents during tissue dissection and instrument application