Chinese Journal Of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2018, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (6): 611-614.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2018.06.003

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X - ray performance and characteristics of cervical vertebral block

LI Jun-hua1,  WANG Zhi-hong2, LI Yi-kai3   

  1. 1. Department of Anatomy, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Biomechanics, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515; 2. Department of Radiology, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou 510515; 3. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
  • Received:2018-06-28 Online:2018-11-25 Published:2018-12-29

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the X-ray performance and characteristics of cervical vertebral block. Methods The X-ray data of 125 patients with cervical vertebral block were retrospectively analyzed, including 45 males and 80 females, with an average age of 41.9 years old (male to female ratio was 1:1.77), ranging from 24 to 75. The number of nodes, fusion sites, the occurrence of callus, cervical lordosis curvature, and upper and lower vertebral space were analyzed.    Results    Cervical vertebrae block was involved 2 vertebrae in 100 cases, 3 vertebrae in 5 cases, 4 vertebrae in 17 cases, and 5 vertebrae in 3 cases. The single-segment fusion block was the most common in the C2~3 segment (43 cases, 43%), followed by the C3~4 segment (16 cases, 16%). Thirty-six cases (28.8%) of cervical curvature were straightened/anti-arched. Among the X-ray findings, vertebral anterior/posterior osteophytein  was found in 110 cases (88%); stenosis in the upper disc space was found in 7 cases (5.6%); stenosis in the lower disc space was found in 15 cases (11.7%); spinous process fusion was found in 52 cases (41.6%); calcification of the anterior longitudinal ligament was found in 19 cases (15.2%); ligament calcification was found in 17 cases (13.6%); skull base depression was found in 15 cases (12%). Conclusions Cervical vertebral block often shows single-segment fusion. Simultaneous fusion of the vertebral body and attachment is more common than the vertebral body fusion alone. Cervical vertebral block is often accompanied by adjacent segment degeneration and basilar invagination.

Key words: Cervical vertebral block,  X-ray,  Klippel-Feil syndrome,  Adjacent segment degeneration