Sexual Dimorphism in Cervical Spine – A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study

Abstract

Background: Morphometric measurements of the spinal cord provide important clues regarding neural and spinal injuries. They are also of forensic importance and can be used to determine sex of an individual. These parameters have been shown to vary across age groups and ethnicity. Currently, there is a paucity of data regarding these parameters in Maharashtra, India. Therefore, studies are required to provide reference values for spinal canal parameters for this population. Aims: To study the cervical spinal canal morphometric differences in males and females in the west Maharashtra population. Materials and Methods: A comparative, retrospective study was conducted on 70 subjects aged between 18 and 70 years (36 males, 34 females). The sagittal vertebral body diameter, the sagittal spinal canal diameter, and the sagittal spinal cord diameter were measured at the C3–C7 level by magnetic resonance imaging. The space available for the spinal cord and Torg's ratio were determined. Statistical Analysis Used: Mann–Whitney U-test and unpaired t-test were used to calculate significant difference at P < 0.05. Results: Mean age of the patients was 48.53 ± 14.67 years. There was significant difference in the sagittal spinal canal diameter and spinal cord diameter (P = 0.000107 and P = 2.20e−16, respectively) from C3 to C7. In all the cases, the Torg's ratio of females (0.97–1.04) was higher than in males (0.89–0.95) and varied significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The study provides reference morphometric values for combined Torg's ratio and individually in males and females in the Kolhapur population.