Evaluation of occipitocervical neutral position using lateral radiographs

Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

Shaoxian Liu¹  Guangjun Liao¹  Jiangwei Tan² 

[1] Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yantaishan Hospital, No. 91 Jiefang Road, Zhifu district, Yantai 264000, People¿s Republic of China;Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264000, People¿s Republic of China

关键词: Radiograph;    Occipitocervical;    Neutral;    Mandible cervical distance;    Fusion;   

Others  :  1152009
DOI  :  10.1186/s13018-014-0087-2

 received in 2014-05-13, accepted in 2014-09-16,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Intraoperative assessment of neutral occipitocervical balance during a fusion procedure is challenging. We designed this study to introduce a more comprehensive method of evaluating the occipitocervical neutral position using lateral radiographs.

Methods

One hundred neutral lateral cervical spine radiographs interpreted as normal were studied. Cervical spine radiographs were performed using a standard technique. The occipitocervical angle, the occipitocervical distance, and the mandible cervical distance were measured by different observers.

Results

A difference analysis was performed between males and females. The mean mandible cervical distances were 11.0 and 11.2 mm in males and females, respectively. The mean occipitocervical distances were 22.0 mm (male) and 19.6 mm (female), and the occipitocervical angles were 47.2° (male) and 45.5° (female). The occipitocervical distance revealed significant differences between males and females (p <0.01). However, there were no significant differences between sexes for the occipitocervical angle or the mandible cervical distance (p >0.01).

Conclusions

This study offers reference values for the occipitocervical angle and occipitocervical distance for the estimation of the occipitocervical neutral position. The introduction of the mandible cervical distance may make the evaluation more direct and more comprehensive during surgery because of its sensitivity to changes in head position.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Tan et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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