THE VERTEBRAL BODY DEPTHS OF THE CERVICAL-SPINE AND ITS RELATION TO ANTERIOR PLATE-SCREW FIXATION

Study Design. A study was performed to measure the vertebral body dept hs in different locations from C2 to C7. Objectives. To measure the ve rtebral body depths in 10 linear dimension from C2 to C7. Summary of B ackground Data. Anterior plate-screw fixation of the cervical spine ha s been the common surgical procedure for management of multilevel dege nerative disc disease and fracture dislocation. However, injury to the spinal cord during drill or screw placement is the most reared compli cation of this procedure. It is beneficial for one to have a knowledge of the vertebral body depths in different locations of the vertebral body before anterior cervical plating. Methods. Twenty-seven cervical spines from C2 to C7 were evaluated directly for this study. Anatomic evaluation of the vertebral body included the anteroposterior midline sagittal depth and the anteroposterior parasagittal depth 5 mm lateral to midline on the superior and inferior endplates, as well as on the middle body. Measurements also were made of anteroposterior parasagitt al vertebral depth with both medial and lateral inclination of 10 degr ees,with respect to the parasagittal plane of the vertebral body. Resu lts. In general, the measurements of male specimens were larger than t hose of female specimens. Significant differences were noted at 21 mea surements over C3 through C7. The mean depths of the superior endplate for all male and female specimens increased from C3 to C7. The mean d epths of the interior endplate varied but generally increased from C2 to C6, then decreased to C7. The mean sagittal and parasagittal middle vertebral body depths were both 14 mm. Conclusions. This information, in conjunction with preoperative computed tomographic evaluation, may be in determining proper screw length during anterior of the cervical spine.