Morphometry of the Uncinate Process, Vertebral Body, and Lamina of the C3-7 Vertebrae Relevant to Cervical Spine Surgery.

Cervical spine consists of four typical and three atypical vertebrae. Uncinate process is one of the unique features of the cervical vertebrae. Uncinectomy and uncoforaminotomy is widely used procedure to decompress the nerve in the intervertebral foramen, osteophyte removal from uncinate process. Morphometric study of the uncinate process helps the spine surgeons to get three dimensional orientations to approach the cervical spine with minimal risk to the surrounding vascular and neural structures. Eighty dry adult cervical vertebrae were studied and 11 parameters were measured. Seven parameters are paired and four are unpaired. The height of the uncinate process progressively increased from c3 to c6 and decreased in c7. The length of the uncinate process increased from c3 to c6-c7. The width is maximum in c6 and minimum in c3. The vertebral body width and anteroposterior diameter was gradually increased from c3 to c7. The parameters of lamina also increased from c3 to c7. The precise knowledge about the cervical vertebrae helps in diagnosing, not only the common, but also the uncommon causes and to choose appropriate approach. Eventually, it helps to increase the success rate of cervical surgeries.