Using the anteroposterior diameter of C3-C7 spinal canals to assess cervical stenosis among Ghanaian males: An anatomical study

Abstract

Background and aim: Cervical stenosis (CS) occurs when the size of the spinal canal is narrower in an individual than that of the general population. Individuals with CS may be asymptomatic or may present with a wide array of neurological symptoms. There however appears to be paucity of information on the AP canal diameter among Ghanaians. This study therefore, aimed at using the diameter of C3-C7 spinal canals to assess the presence of cervical stenosis in the Ghanaian male population. 

Material and Methods: The study was carried out using 110 dry cervical vertebrae which the author harvested from 24 male cadavers. The anteroposterior diameter (AP) of the cervical spinal canal for C3-C7 vertebrae were measured using a digital Vernier caliper to 0.01mm precision. Using the means and standard deviations, the spinal canals were classified as relatively narrow or narrow.

Results: The percentage of narrow and relatively narrow spinal canals was 1.82% (2) and 10.0% (11) respectively.  The C4 vertebra was observed to have the smallest AP diameter 12.38±2.12mm, while C6 had the largest AP dimeter 13.88±1.47mm. AP diameters in the present study were found to differ from Caucasians and African-American males, but were similar to those reported in Asians and Female African-American females.

Conclusion: In the present study 11.8% of cervical vertebrae showed some degree of narrowing. The mean AP diameters of the spinal canals in the present study were found to be smaller than those reported in Caucasians and African American males. The findings of the present study suggest the need to develop race and geographic specific criteria for diagnosing CS.