The Relationship between Age, Gender, and the Craniocervical Junction

Abstract

Introduction: Anterior surgical approaches to craniocervical junction continue to evolve. The introduction of endoscopy has allowed for less invasive and alternative approaches, such as endoscopic odontoid approaches and high-cervical approaches. The optimal surgical corridors for anterior cervicomedullary junction pathology are not well defined relative to the C1–2 anatomy and typically depend on the location of the hard palate. Furthermore, it is unknown if relative anatomy changes with aging. We hypothesize that the atlantodental complex changes its relationship to the hard palate with aging.