ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: The length of the cervical cord in healthy volunteers was measured in the supine and erect position using positional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between the length of the cervical cord and cervical posture in healthy volunteers. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A number of detailed descriptions of the normal morphologic features of the cervical cord have been published. However, to our knowledge, there is no report to compare the relationship between the length of the cervical cord and cervical posture in healthy volunteers using positional MRI. METHODS: This study was performed on 20 healthy volunteers using positional MRI. The subjects were studied in the supine and erect positions. The recumbent series consisted of 3 positions: neutral, flexion, and extension. The erect series consisted of 3 positions: neutral, flexion, and extension. On the midsagittal image, the length of the cervical cord from C1 to C7 was measured at the anterior, middle, and posterior line. The angle of the lower-endplate of C2 and C7 was measured. The results were compared with each series. RESULTS: In the recumbent and erect series, the mean length of the cervical cord in flexion was longer than in neutral and extension at the anterior, middle, and posterior line. There were significant differences between the length of the cervical cord in flexion, neutral, and extension. The mean length of the cervical cord in extension was shorter than in neutral and flexion at the anterior, middle, and posterior line. There were significant differences between length of the cervical cord in extension, neutral, and flexion. CONCLUSIONS: We found posture-dependent differences of the length of the cervical cord in the recumbent and erect series. These results may be important when assessing the dynamic factor in cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
Subject(s)
Cervical Vertebrae , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Posture/physiology , Spinal Cord/anatomy & histology , Spinal Cord/physiology , Adult , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: The area in cross-sectional view of the cervical cord (ACSCC) at each disc levels was measured in supine and erect positions using positional magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI). OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationship between ACSCC and cervical posture in healthy volunteers using pMRI. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There have been few detailed descriptions of the normal morphologic features of the cervical cord. However, there is no report to compare the relationship between ACSCC and cervical posture in healthy volunteers. METHODS: The study was performed on 20 healthy volunteers. The subjects were studied with pMRI in the supine and erect positions. The recumbent series and the erect series consist of 3 positions each: neutral, flexion and extension. On axial images, ACSCC was measured at the C2/3, C3/4, C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7 disc levels. On midsagittal image, the angle of the lower-endplate of C2 and C7 was measured. The results were compared between each series. RESULTS: In the recumbent and erect series, ACSCC was larger in extension than in neutral and flexion at all levels. There were significant differences between ACSCC in extension, neutral and flexion. ACSCC was smaller in flexion than in neutral and extension at all levels. There were significant differences between ACSCC in flexion, neutral and extension. CONCLUSIONS: We found posture-dependent differences of ACSCC in the recumbent and erect series. These results may be valuable for identifying a dynamic factor in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.
