Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2019, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (28): 4558-4563.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.1473

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Three-dimensional digital morphological characteristics of the facet joint of the lower cervical spine in children aged 4-6 years

He Yujie1, Zhang Shaojie1, Li Zhijun1, 2, Li Xiaohe1, Wang Haiyan1, 2, Wang Xing1, 2, Xu Yangyang1, Gao Mingjie1, Li Kun1, Dai Lina1
  

  1. 1Department of Human Anatomy, 2Digital Medical Center, Basic Medical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010059, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • Online:2019-10-08 Published:2019-10-08
  • Contact: Li Zhijun, Master, Professor, Department of Human Anatomy, and Digital Medical Center, Basic Medical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010059, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China Li Xiaohe, MD, Professor, Master’s supervisor, Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010059, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China
  • About author:He Yujie, Master candidate, Lecturer, Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010059, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China Zhang Shaojie, Master, Associate professor, Master’s supervisor, Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot 010059, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China He Yujie and Zhang Shaojie contributed equally to this study.
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81560348 (to LZJ)| the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81660358 (to ZSJ)| the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81460330 (to LZJ)| the Science and Technology Guidance Project of Inner Mongolia Finance Department (2017) (to LXH)

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Zygapophysial joints of cervical vertebra is also called intervertebral facet joint. It is a synovial joint like the large joints of the body. In recent years, anatomical and biomechanical studies have shown that zygapophysial joints injuries and degeneration is one of the most common causes of chronic neck pain. Existing studies on this joint have focused on adolescents and adults.
OBJECTIVE: The morphological parameters of children's inferior cervical zygapophysial joints were measured to explore their developmental rules and morphological characteristics, and finally to provide anatomical parameters for clinical zygapophysial joint screw fixation.
METHODS: Totally 32 cases of children aged 4-6 years old with no changes in vertebral bone structure such as bone destruction, tumor, deformity or fracture in the inferior cervical spine and no previous spine related surgery were selected for three-dimensional reconstruction after cervical spiral CT scanning. Guardian signed the informed consent. This study was approved by the Hospital Ethics Committee. Morphological measurement and statistical analysis of C3-C7 zygapophysial joints were conducted.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) For children cervical zygapophysial joint articular surfaces in both height and width, between the adjacent two vertebrae, the lower articular surface was smaller than the upper articular surface, so it can be inferred that the size of the upper articular surface was always larger than that of the lower articular surface. According to the height to width ratio, the articular surface of the superior facet of the lower cervical spine in children aged 4-6 years was nearly elliptic from C3-C7; the articular surface of the inferior facet from C3-C7 was nearly circular. The transition from circular to elliptic shape had not yet been formed. (2) The trend of high change in facet joint was from the lowest point of C2-C7 in the C4 segment, and the overall trend was first down and then up. (3) The zygapophysial joints first rose and then fell, and there was no significant difference between the upper supraspinal spacing and the lower one except in the C5 segment, and the maximum value was reached. In C3 and C4 segments, the supraspinal spacing was less than the inferior one, and in C6 and C7 segments, the supraspinal spacing was remarkably greater than the inferior one, which may be related to the gravity transfer and cervical spine activities.

Key words: inferior cervical, zygapophysial joints, developmental characteristics, children, screw, fixation, spiral CT, cervical vertebral movement, National Natural Science Foundation of China

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