Morphometric analysis of cervical disc space height and interpedicular distance using computed tomography

Abstract

Background: This study utilized computed tomography (CT) to establish normative radiographic morphometric measurements of cervical disc space height (DSH) and interpedicular distance (IPD) and document the influence of patient sex, race, ethnicity, and anthropometric characteristics. Methods: Cervical CTs of 1000 patients between 18 and 35 years of age without known spinal pathology were reviewed. Statistical analyses included the assessment of associations between patient height, weight, sex, race, and ethnicity regarding DSH and IPD. Results: Irrespective of disc level, average DSH measurements were as follows: anterior height of 2.6 ± 1.0 mm, middle height of 4.1 ± 1.2 mm, and posterior height of 1.8 ± 1.0 mm. IPD was only measured between C3 and C7 vertebrae, and irrespective of disc level, the mean IPD measurement was 21.1 ± 1.5 mm. Significant differences for anterior, middle, posterior DSH, and IPD were observed in all disc levels. Significant differences in DSH and IPD were observed for all anthropometric factors of sex, race, and ethnicity relative to vertebral level. Males had significantly larger DSH and IPD measurements across all vertebral levels compared to females. Caucasians had larger DSH and IPD at select vertebral levels compared to African Americans and Hispanics. Conclusion: This study describes measurements of DSH and IPD between C2 and T1 levels in 1000 healthy 18–35-year-old subjects without known pathology. DSH and IPD measurements varied based on patient sex, race, ethnicity, and disc level.