Abstract
Introduction. Data of the scientifi c literature and offi cial medical statistics show that the level of bone and joint diseases has risen sharply among the world’s population today, and osteoporosis became one of the most common diseases of our time. Today, osteoporosis is a rapid trend towards rejuvenation and affects people both mature and youthful and even adolescence. The method of computed tomography (CT) can give detailed information about qualitative and quantitative characteristics of surveyed structures, localization and spread of pathological processes, but early detection of pathological changes in osseous tissue is possible only under condition of perfect knowledge of the age, sex, and individual constitutional features in its specifi c areas of the skeleton under conditions of physiological norm. The aim of our study was to clarify the characteristics of morphometric parameters and density of the vertebral bodies of the cervical vertebra in individuals of different sexes of the juvenile age.
Materials and methods. To achieve this aim we have examined 39 CT scans of people of the juvenile age (18-21 years), including – 18 women and 21 men who underwent screening computer tomography (CT) examination or examination on pathologies not related to the state of the vertebra, osseous and cartilage tissue, or diseases which could have affected it. A survey was performed on computer tomograph of the fourth generation TSX-101A Aquilion 16. During the study the height (on the anterior edge, in the middle and on the posterior edge in the lateral projection and in the center in the direct projection), width (the superior edge, in the middle and at the inferior edge in a direct projection), depth (on the superior and the inferior edges in lateral projection) and density (the superior edge, in the middle and at the inferior edge in a direct projection) of the vertebral bodies of the cervical vertebra were measured. For the measurement a standard computer program K-Pacs-Lite.Linear was used. Dimensions were measured in millimeters (mm), density – in Hounsfi eld units (UH).
Results. Analysis of body height of the cervical vertebrae according to the tomograms in lateral projection showed that men and women have the smallest height at mid-body of the vertebrae, except the second, and the second vertebral body height gradually decreases from the anterior edge to the posterior; in male height index is the greatest in the second and third vertebrae – at the anterior edge, in the fourth, fi fth, sixth and seventh – on the posterior edge, and in female the greatest height index was determined on the anterior edge of the bodies of the second and seventh vertebrae, and on the posterior edge – in the third, fourth, fi fth and sixth vertebrae. Comparison of the height of the vertebral bodies in different areas in the individuals of both sexes showed higher levels in men with the exception of the anterior edge and the middle area of the second vertebrae. All vertebral bodies depth on the superior edge is bigger than on the inferior in male and female individuals. Vertebral body depths increases gradually on the superior and on the inferior edges from the second to the seventh vertebra in male, vertebral bodies depth on the superior edge is also increasing from the second to the seventh vertebra in female, and on the inferior edge increases from the second to the sixth vertebra, and in the seventh reduces not signifi cantly. The comparison of the cervical vertebrae bodies in individuals of both sexes showed that the absolute value of the studied parameters in men is higher than in women. The width of the anterior arch of the fi rst cervical vertebra gradually decreases from the superior edge to the inferior in men and women. Correlation of the widths of the different parts of the body of the second – seventh vertebrae is also the same for men and women – the highest width index is in the middle in all vertebrae, and the lowest – on the inferior edge (the exception is the sixth cervical vertebra, body width of which on the superior edge and in the middle has not signifi cantly varied). There was no signifi cant difference between the absolute values of the identical linear dimensions in individuals of both sexes. Study of the tomograms in the direct projection showed that the biggest height has the body of the second cervical vertebra on the median sagittal line, the smallest – Atlas arc both in female and male. Regardless of gender, investigated index decreases from second to fi fth cervical vertebra, with the next increase to the seventh cervical vertebra. With the same ratio of height of the vertebral bodies in men and women, higher absolute values were determined in males. Density index is the lowest on the level of the middle of each investigated object in male and female. The highest density was determined in male on the superior edge of the bodies of the second, third, fourth and seventh cervical vertebrae and on the inferior edge of the anterior Atlas arch and bodies of the fi fth and sixth cervical vertebrae. In female the highest density indexes were determined on the superior edge of the Atlas anterior arch and bodies of all cervical vertebrae, except the sixth. Determined density indexes in male are higher than in female in all surveyed structures at all levels, except for the middle of the anterior arch of the fi rst cervical vertebra.
Conclusions. During CT examinations of patients it is advisable to defi ne both quantitative (linear dimensions) and qualitative (density) indexes of the examined osseous structures, which would detect deviations in their structure in the early stages (before the clinical manifestations) and to provide timely and effective correction.