頚椎・頚髄損傷における軟部陰影の検討

Abstract

The lateral cervical roentgenogram is a useful guide in evaluating the bony and soft tissue relationships of the neck. Particularly, the measurements of the cervical soft tissue width are extremely important in determining the presence or absence of cervical spine injury. We therefore established the criterion of prevertebral soft tissue thickness. To determine the normal appearance, we examined 100 adults without detectable abnormalities in our clinic. We measured 248 cases of the cervical injury that had had operative treatment in our center. There were apparent differences in the results between these two groups. The prevertebral soft tissue width was measured at the level of the anteroinferior border of the second and sixth cervical vertebral body, the former is retropharyngeal space and the latter is retrotracheal space. This point was chosen because it was above the pharynx and the trachea, easy to determine, and free from conflicting shadows. It is suggested that measurments for the retropharyngeal space greater than 4mm, and measurments of the retrotracheal space greater than 15mm, should be indirect evidence of cervical spine injury.