IJAR.2017.194

Type of Article:  Original Research

Volume 5; Issue 2.2 (May 2017)

Page No.: 3829-3832

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.16965/ijar.2017.194

MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF THE ARTICULAR FACETS OF ATLAS VERTEBRA IN NORTH INDIAN POPULATION

Kayalvizhi I, Bansal S, Dhidharia K, Narayan RK, Kumar P *.

Department of Anatomy, Pt. B. D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India.

Address for Correspondence: Dr Piyush Kumar, Department Of Anatomy, Pt. B. D. Sharma, PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India. E-Mail: piyushkarnonline@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The first cervical vertebra, Atlas (C1) has different anatomical features from the other cervical vertebrae. C1 vertebra is an important part of bony anatomy of Cranio-vertebral Junction (CVJ). The stability of the atlas is provided by two symmetrical lateral masses that are united by anterior and posterior arches. These lateral masses are thick, supportive elements composed of both superior and inferior articular facets. The stability of the cervical spine is violated by various traumatic and non-traumatic causes. Instability of CVJ needs surgical correction or long term immobility to attain a solid fusion.

Materialsand Methods: For the study of various metric parameters, 50 atlas vertebrae were used. Maximum anteroposterior (AP) and transverse (T) diameter of SAF and IAF were measured and the data were analyzed.

Discussion: SAF-AP: The average anteroposterior diameter of SAF on both the sides of atlas was maximum in European, American, Spanish and German population where as in Indian and Turkish population the values were less. SAF-T: The average transverse diameter of SAF was more or less similar in Indian, German, Turkish and Spanish population. IAF: IAF had maximum AP &T diameter in American and German population. The values of IAF in Spanish population correlated with the values in Indian population. The values were found more or less similar in all the Indian studies.

Results and Conclusion: The mean values obtained for all the parameters were more or less symmetrical. In the present study, the AP diameters of SAFs were less as compared to the western population. The values of AP & T diameter of IAF was also found less in Indian population. The knowledge of the dimensions of the SAF (AP – 20.25mm; T-10.93mm) and   IAF (AP- 16.95mm; T- 14.95 mm) help in safe planning of the screw placement during CVJ surgery.

Key words: Cervical vertebrae, Atlas, Cranio-vertebral junction, Superior articular facets, Inferior articular facets.

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Cite this article: Kayalvizhi I, Bansal S, Dhidharia K, Narayan RK, Kumar P. MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF THE ARTICULAR FACETS OF ATLAS VERTEBRA IN NORTH INDIAN POPULATION. Int J Anat Res 2017;5(2.2):3829-3832. DOI: 10.16965/ijar.2017.194