Prevalence of Cervical Spine Stenosis

• DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.f.00437
• Publication Date: 2007-02-03T06:41:00Z
• Authors: Michael J. Lee; Ezequiel H. Cassi...; K. Daniel Riew
• Keywords: Cervical canal; Calipers

Background: The sagittal diameter of the cervical spinal canal is clinical importance in traumatic, degenerative, and inflammatory conditions. A small has been associated with an increased risk injury; however, there a lack reliable normative data on diameters different age groups United States population. purpose this study was to use direct measurement skeletal specimens determine spectrum canal, frequency stenosis general population, prevalence for groups, races, sexes. Methods: Four hundred sixty-nine adult spine were obtained from Hamann-Todd Collection Cleveland Museum Natural History. With digital calipers, distance posteriormost aspect vertebral body anteriormost spinolaminar structure measured recorded each specimen at every level C3 C7. Cervical defined as <12 mm. We analyzed measurements then assessed those after correcting size increases current population compared Collection. Finally, we both that correction adjustment radiographic magnification. Results: average anterior-posterior (and standard deviation) all levels 14.1 ± 1.6 ranged 9.0 20.9 mm, median 14.4 Men had significantly larger canals than women evaluated. Specimens donors who sixty years or more time death narrower younger donors. There no significant differences, numbers available, between black white groups. After adjusting magnification, estimated present 4.9% 6.8% fifty older, 9% seventy older. Conclusions: appears be very common. finding should therefore correlated presentation prior decision-making regarding treatment.