The morphological classification and clinical significance of atlas vertebral artery sulcus based on Computed Tomography three-dimensional reconstruction

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to research the morphological classification and clinical significance of Vertebral artery groove on atlas based on CT three-dimensional reconstruction.Methods Methods Three-dimensional reconstruction images of 300 adult atlases were collected. A total of 600 atlas vertebral artery sulcuses were selected in this study. The depth required for grinding drilling(ao), width ( cd ), length ( ab ), height ( H ), lateral wall thickness ( L1 ), inner wall thickness ( L2 ), medial angle (∠α) and the cephalad angle to the transverse plane of atlas pedicle (∠β) were measured.Results CT three-dimensional reconstruction images showed that there were five types of atlas vertebral artery sulcus : no process type (494, 82.33%), upper process type (29,483 % ), lower process type(25,4.17%), double process type(19,3.17%), posterior ring type(33, 5.50 % ). the ao of no protrusion type was the shortest ; L2 of the lower protrusion type was the smallest ; L2 was greater than L1 ; the double protrusion type had the smallest H ; the ∠ α and ∠ β of no protrusion type werethe smallest.Conclusion Among the five types, the no protruding type was the most ( 83.33 % ), and the ∠ α and ∠ β of no protrusion type were the smallest. When screw pedicle screws were inserted, the above two angles should not be too large. Male’s ao was longer than female’s. When using high speed grinding drill to drill the opening, male needsed to drill deeper than female’s, otherwise the nail track was easy to deviate.