颈椎钩突形态特点及其在前外侧入路减压术中的意义

目的确定钩突的大小，为钩突切除提供形态学基础。方法50套颈椎C

Clinical significance ofthe morphometry of cervical uncinate process in the anterolateral decompression ofcervical spine

Objective:To provide morphologic basis for surgical excision of cervical uncinate process by measuring it.Methods： Totally 250 C3～C7 cervical vertebrae of 50 dried cervical spines were measured with caliper to get the following parameter:the height,width,anteroposterior diameter,interuncinate distance of the uncinate process;upper anteroposterior diameter and lower transverse diameter of the vertebral body.Results: The height of the uncinate process decreased gradually from the C3(6.0±1.0 mm) to C7(4.9±1.3 mm); the width of it at C3～C6(4.8±1.0～4.8±0.8 mm) was smaller than that at C7(5.1±0.9 mm);the anteroposterior diameter decreased gradually from C4(11.6±1.7 mm) to C7(9.6±1.7 mm);the interuncinate distance,upper anteroposterior and lower transverse diameter of the vertebral body increased gradually from C3 to C7,and their measured values were 19.1±2.0～25.6±1.9 mm,19.3±2.4～26.9±2.2 mm and 14.4±1.4～16.1±1.9 mm respectively.Conclusion:The morphology of the cervical uncinate process may be helpful during anterolateral cervical uncosectomy or uncoforaminotomy and reduce the risk of possible complications.