Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXTThe posterior cervical approach is a very popular surgical procedure. Because of the slope-shaped laminae, a suitable landmark for laminectomy, laminoplasty, and pedicle screw placement does not exist. PURPOSEWe investigated the association between the nutrient foramen and spinal canal, and the safety of bone gutter placement using nutrient foramina for safe and effective spinal surgery. STUDY DESIGNObservational SETTINGUniversity Hospital PATIENT SAMPLESTwo hundred and sixty-six consecutive patients treated for cervical pathologies in our university hospital between January 2005 and December 2019. OUTCOME MEASURESWe identified the location of nutrient foramina and their anatomical association with the spinal canal using preoperative three-dimensional CT scanning. METHODSWe studied the distance between each foramen and the spinal canal, and the angle of the nutrient foramen at each vertebral level. RESULTSThe nutrient foramina were always located outside the spinal canal, with an average distance of +3.06±1.74 mm. The lower the spinal level, the closer the nutrient foramen to the spinal canal. CONCLUSIONSThe nutrient foramen can be considered a reliable landmark when using the posterior cervical approach.
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