Evaluation of lower cervical vertebral and intervertebral disc morphometry

Amaç: Bu çalışmada her iki cinsiyette alt servikal bölgede vertebra ve disklerde yaş ile ilişkili değişiklikler incelendi. Yöntem: Yaşları 16-87 arasında değişen 200 kişinin (74 erkek, 126 kadın) direkt lateral boyun radyografileri retrospektif olarak değerlendirildi. C3’den itibaren her bir servikal vertebra korpusunun ön (Ha) ve arka (Hp) yükseklikleri, C3-T1 arasındaki intervertebral disklerin ön (Da) ve arka (Dp) yükseklikleri 0.01 mm hassasiyeti olan dijital bir kompas ile ölçüldü. Bu ölçümler kullanılarak değerlendirilmeye alınan her bir servikal segmente ait Ha/Hp ve Da/Dp oranı hesaplandı. Bulgular: Her bir servikal segmentte Ha/Hp ve Da/Dp oranları cinsiyete göre karşılaştırıldığında anlamlı farklılık saptanmadı (p0.05). Ha/Hp oranı ile yaş arasında her iki cinsiyette de anlamlı değişiklikler gözlenmedi (p0.05). Erkeklerde Da/Dp oranlarının hiç birisinde yaşla anlamlı değişiklik gözlenmedi (p0.05). Kadınlarda C3-4, C4-5, C5-6, C6-7, C7-T1 Da/Dp oranları ile yaş arasında pozitif, zayıf ve anlamlı korelasyon saptandı (p0.05). Sonuç: Buna dayanarak kadınlarda yaşlanma ile birlikte servikal lordozun arttığı söylenebilir. Bu sonuçların servikal vertebralarda yaş ile ilişkili değişiklikleri değerlendirmekte faydalı olabileceğini düşünüyoruz.Objectives: In this study, we evaluated age-related changes in the morphometric features of lower cervical spine in both sexes. Methods: Plain lateral radiographs of 200 individuals (74 males, 126 females; 16-87 years old) were evaluated retrospectively. The anterior height (Ha), posterior height (Hp) of the body of each cervical vertebra and anterior height (Da) and posterior height (Dp) of each intervertebral disc between C3-T1 were measured using a digital compass with a resolution of 0.01 mm. These measurements were used to calculate Ha/Hp and Da/Dp ratios. Results: The differences regarding Ha/Hp and Da/Dp ratios of each cervical segment between genders were not statistically significant (p>0.05). No significant changes were observed in the value of Ha/Hp ratio with the advance of age in either sex (p>0.05). There were no significant correlations between age and Da/Dp ratios in males (p>0.05). There was weak, positive and significant correlation between age and C3-4, C4-5, C5-6, C6-7, C7-T1 Da/Dp ratio in females (p<0.05). Conclusion: It could be suggested that cervical lordosis increases with the advance of age in females. These results may be useful for evaluating age-related morphological changes that occur in the cervical vertebrae

Variation in the formation of the median nerve involving a communicating branch from the musculocutaneous nerve

Background: The brachial plexus has a complex anatomical structure from its origin in the neck, through its course in the axillary region. It is formed by the union of the ventral rami of the spinal nerves from C5 to T1. Anomalies in the formation of the cords of brachial plexus and the communications between its branches are common. Case Report: Anomalies of the brachial plexus in terms of the formation of the median nerve were observed during routine dissection of the right upper limb of the cadaver of a 55-year-old male. The branches of the lateral and medial cords of the brachial plexus were dissected carefully and the variation from the usual pattern was noted. The lateral root of the median nerve arose from the lateral cord and bifurcated after 2 cm. The upper part united with the medial root of the median nerve and the lower part united with the median nerve approximately 0.5 cm past the aforementioned unification. There was also a communicating branch originating from the musculocutaneous nerve that arose 6 cm distal to the origin of the lateral root. This communicating branch coursed medially and united with the median nerve. Conclusions: It is important to be aware of these variations when planning surgery and regional anesthesia of the axilla or upper extremity. In addition, the presence of anatomic variations of the peripheral nervous system is often used to explain unexpected clinical signs and symptoms

MRI determination of conus medullaris level in an adult population in Turkey

The level of the conus medullaris (CM) in adults has been described in many studies with cadavers and living people. T1-weighted sagittal spin-echo MR images of the lumbar spine were reviewed in 364 consecutive patients (207 women, 157 men) with a mean age of 45 years (range 18-80). The most common level of CM was the L1-L2 intervertebral disc level in females and the T12-L1 intervertebral disc level in males. The distribution of CM location in a large adult population was shown to range from the T11-T12 intervertebral disc level to L2-L3 intervertebral disc level