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Relation between alignments of upper and subaxial cervical spine: a radiological study

  • Basic Science
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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To reveal the relation between alignments of upper and subaxial cervical spine and deduce the optimal atlantoaxial fusion angle by a radiological study.

Methods

414 asymptomatic volunteers (213 males, 201 females) underwent cervical lateral radiographs in neutral position. The Oc–C2 angle, C1–C2 angle and C2–C7 angle were measured. Relations among these three angles and relations between angles and age were analyzed.

Results

The mean Oc–C2 angle was 16.3° ± 7.0° in females, significantly larger than 14.9° ± 6.5° in males. The mean C1–C2 angles were 28.2° ± 4.0° in females and 26.4° ± 4.6° in males, and C2–C7 angles were 12.7° ± 6.6° and 16.3° ± 7.3°, correspondingly. The mean C1–C2 angle in females was significantly larger than that in males, while C2–C7 angle smaller than that in males. The C2–C7 angle correlated significantly not only with C1–C2 angle but also with Oc–C2 angle. And correlation between C1–C2 angle and C2–C7 angle was stronger than that between Oc–C2 angle and C2–C7 angle. There were also significant positive correlations between C1–C2 and Oc–C2 angles. Oc–C2 angle, C1–C2 angle, and C2–C7 angle correlated significantly with age in both sexes.

Conclusions

There were negative correlations between C1–C2 angle and C2–C7 angle as well as between Oc–C2 angle and C2–C7 angle, and the former correlation was stronger. C1–C2 fixation angle was the key to regulate postoperative subaxial alignment in atlantoaxial arthrodesis. The optimal atlantoaxial fusion angle may be between 25° and 30°.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, People’s Republic of China

    Qunfeng Guo, Bin Ni, Jian Yang & Fengjin Zhou

  2. Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 42 West Wenhua Road, Lixia District, Jinan, 250011, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Jianxin Zhang

  3. Department of Radiology, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Kai Liu & Zhichao Sun

Authors
  1. Qunfeng Guo
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  2. Bin Ni
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  3. Jian Yang
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  4. Kai Liu
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  5. Zhichao Sun
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  6. Fengjin Zhou
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  7. Jianxin Zhang
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Correspondence to Bin Ni or Jianxin Zhang.

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Guo, Q., Ni, B., Yang, J. et al. Relation between alignments of upper and subaxial cervical spine: a radiological study. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 131, 857–862 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1265-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-011-1265-x

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