Morphologic changes in the cervical intervertebral foramen due to axial rotation of the cervical spine / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To examine the morphological changes in the cervical intervertebral foramen during axial rotation of cervical spine and explore its clinical significance for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical degenerative disease. Methods Ten healthy volunteers (5 male, 5 female) were subjected to transectional scan by multislice spiral computed tomography of cervical spine from the upper edge of C 3 vertebra to the lower edge of C 7 vertebra. On the 45 degree oblique reconstructions of C 3～4, C 4～5, C 5～6 and C 6～7 intervertebral foramina, four parameters were measured, including foraminal height, foraminal width (both superior and inferior), and cross-sectional area of the foramen. Statistic analyses were performed to examine the morphological changes in the cervical intervertebral foramen. Results It was found that the foraminal cross-sectional area was decreased on the side of rotation,and increased on the opposite side of rotation. Significant correlation was revealed between the variation rate of the C 3～4 intervertebral foramen cross-sectional area and the rotational degree between C 3 and C 4. Conclusion Morphologic changes were found in the cervical intervertebral foramen due to axial rotation. The correlation between the cross-sectional foraminal areas with the degrees of rotation of the vertebrae was statistically significant. The results of the test have the clinical significance on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the cervical degenerative diseases, especially of the radiculopathy.