"Supradental space sign" on cervical spine CT-a sign of tectorial membrane injury in adults trauma patients.

Abstract

The supradental space is a small, predominantly fat-filled recess superior to the atlanto-axial joint and inferior to the basion of the clivus that contains a small venous plexus. The posterior boundary of the supradental space is formed by the tectorial membrane, a stabilizing ligament of the craniocervical junction. The purpose of our study was to examine the imaging appearance of the supradental space in patients with tectorial membrane injury. Adult patients with tectorial membrane injury were identified utilizing keyword searches of radiology reports using Nuance mPower software. Age-matched positive and negative control groups were obtained. Two CAQ-certified neuroradiologists evaluated the cervical CT exams of these patients for supradental fat pad effacement from hematoma formation. The integrity of the osteoligamentous structures of the craniocervical junction was recorded on CT and MRI exams along with demographic information, clinical history, surgical management, and global outcome. Statistical analysis was performed. Sixteen adults were diagnosed with tectorial membrane injury on cervical MRI. All patients with a visible supradental space demonstrated fat pad effacement and Hounsfield units consistent with hematoma formation. The positive and negative control groups demonstrated supradental fat pad effacement in 2/16 and 1/16 patients, respectively. A p-value of < 0.001 was obtained. The "supradental space sign," defined as hematoma formation in the supradental space with effacement of the supradental fat pad is associated with tectorial membrane injury in adult trauma patients with sensitivity of 93.75% (95% confidence interval 69.77 to 99.84%) and specificity of 90.62% (95% confidence interval 74.98 to 98.02%).