Subaxial Cervical Vertebrae: Morphometric Study Of The Pedicles, Laminae And Vertebral Foramina

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The cervical region of vertebral column being the most common site of expression of stress in theform of pain in neck, cervical disc prolapse and cervical neuropraxia. Cervical vertebral column is influenced bymechanical, environmental, genetic, metabolic and hormonal factor and has to react to the forces of every day.Accurate anatomical descriptions of the pedicle, lamina and vertebral foramen are necessary for developmentand use of implantable devices and for spinal instrumentation that ranges from ‘transpedicular screw fixation’to ‘vertebroplasty’.Aim: To study the morphometric database of pedicles, laminae and vertebral foramina of subaxial cervicalvertebrae.Materials and Methods: Fifty-seven dry macerated sets of adult human cervical vertebral columns of unknownsex and age in the Department of Anatomy in Bharati Vidyapeeth University Medical College Pune and Smt.Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital, Pune in Maharashtra. The length, thickness and heightof pedicles and laminae and anteroposterior and transverse length of vertebral foramina were measured withdigital Vernier caliperObservation The pedicle length and thickness was found to increase uniformly from C3 to C7. Thickness oflamina was found to be maximum at C7 vertebra. Maximum anteroposterior length of vertebral foramen wasobserved at C3 and the maximum transverse length at C6.Conclusion: The result of this study will help in designing implants and instruments related to the cervicalvertebral column. It can also help in the management of traumatic and pathological fractures of cervical vertebralcolumn.