Spine
-
The development of a novel positioning device for magnetic resonance imaging of the upper cervical spine and an evaluation of motion patterns of the craniovertebral junction in asymptomatic volunteers as a part of the whole cervical spine motion. ⋯ The new positioning device allows magnetic resonance imaging of the upper cervical spine during flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral bending. To assess the relationship between C0-C1 and C1-C2 in flexion and extension, separate reference values for men and women are recommended.
-
In 100 consecutive patients who underwent surgery because of soft cervical disc herniation, the sagittal and transverse diameters, the area of the bony cervical spinal canal, the sagittal diameter of the hernia, and the minimal bony intervertebral foramen diameter were measured by computed tomography. The data were compared with measurements from a control group of 35 matched healthy individuals. ⋯ Results from this study strongly suggest that the degree and severity of neurologic symptoms accompanying cervical soft disc herniation are inversely related to the sagittal diameter and the area of the bony cervical spinal canal. The latter area is reduced in cases of developmental stenosis or because of soft disc herniation. Moreover, patients with soft cervical disc herniation have a significantly smaller sagittal diameter of the bony spinal canal, a significantly smaller minimal bony intervertebral foramen diameter, and a significantly smaller cross-sectional area of the bony cervical canal than do healthy matched individuals.