Measurement Of Cervical Intervertebral Foraminal Area Using Three-Dimensional Computerized Tomography And Clinical Study

Purpose:1. To evaluate accuracy of measurement of cervical intervertebral foraminal area using 3-DCT in cadaveric specimens.2. To measure cervical intervertebral foraminal area of health adult using 3-DCT and obtain 95% normal value of area of cervical vertebral foraminal area of health adult. 3. To study clinical value of measurement of cervical vertebral foraminal area using 3-DCT. Materials and methods: 1. Five cadaveric cervical spines were dissected in vertical direction to intervertebral foramine from C2 to C7. The cross sectional foraminal areas were measured and anatomic shape was observed . specimens were examined with SCT. Images were transmitted to Sun Workstation and reconstructed at different thresholds. The cross sectional foraminal area were measured, the results were compared with measurements of the same foramines after dissections. 2. 50 health persons were composed of 25 men and 25 women among which each group were divided into 5 teams by age: A . 20-29 years; B . 30-39 years ;C . 40-49 years ; D. 50-59 years;E . 60-69 years, each teams included five cases. All cases were examined with 3DSCT . Cervical spines were dissected in sagtial plane by computer-assisted simulation. Forminal figure were observed from spinal canal and the inner foraminal area were measured. 3. we study 28 patients with spondylotic radiculopathys.there were 17 men and 11 women, the average age was 53 years,ranged from 34 to 76 years. Foraminal stenosis were assessed by 3DCT. The result were compared with clinical symptom and EMG. Result:1. There were no statistically significant differences( P>0. 05) between3DCT measure at 300 Hu and specimen measure . 2. There were no statistically significant differences ( P>0. 05) between both sides of forminal area. There were statistically significant differences( P<0. 05) between adjacent forminal area, cervical vertebral formina look like the oval type at most, the circular the next, slightness at least. Their ratio is 10:2.9:1. Most of slightness lay at C4-6. C2-3 formina are bigger than the others, cervical vertebral foraminal area get smaller gradually from up to down and with aging. 3. There were no statistically significant differences( P<0. 05) between Foraminal stenosis and clinical symptom and the Coherence was the 86.3%. Coherence between forminal 3DCT and EMG is 76. 7%.Conclusion: Intervertebral foraminal area and shape are valuated accurately with 3-DCT. There are high correlation beween foraminal areas and clinical symptom or EMG In spondylotic radiculopathy. The measurement of cervical intervertebral foraminal area using 3-DCT will have a good prospect in clinical application.