Morphometric study of cervical spine vertebrae in eastern region Nepalese population

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the normal values of mid-sagittal vertebral body Diameter, mid-sagittal canal diameter and canal-body ratio in adult Nepalese population. Methods: In this consent based descriptive, clinico -radiological study of 100 individuals who volunteered to being subjected to lateral projection radiographs of cervical spine. The sagittal canal diameter (CD), sagittal vertebral body diameter (VBD) and the canal-body ratio (CBR) was recorded on lateral projection radiographs (film to tube distance at 183 cms) and analyzed statistically. Results: The mean vertebral body diameter was 17.81±1.73mm (male:18.30±1.64mm;female:17.05±1.61mm), mean canal diameter was 17.18±1.67mm (males:17.31±1.74mm; females: 16.97±1.56mm),the mean canal body ratio was 0.97±0.13 (males:0.95±0.13; females:1.00±0.13). In mongoloids mean body diameter is 18.23±1.58 mm, mean canal diameter is 16.87±1.77 mm. and mean canal body ratio is 0.93±0.13. In non-mongoloids the mean body diameter was 17.48±1.79 mm, mean canal diameter was 17.42±1.59 mm, and mean canal body ratio was 1.00±0.13. Conclusion: The vertebral body diameter was significantly larger in men as compared to women, and this difference was statistically significant at all vertebral levels (p <0.05). The canal diameter was more in males than females but this difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). The canal body ratio was greater in females than in males at all levels but this was also not statistically significant (p >0.05. The canal diameter was more in non-mongoloids as compared to mongoloids but this difference was not significant except at C2 level. Population in the eastern region of Nepal had values more nearer to Indian population but lesser than Europeans. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/hren.v11i3.9636 Health Renaissance 2013;11(3):224-228