Faculty Collaboration Database

Anatomical gender differences in cervical vertebrae of size-matched volunteers. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2008 Jan 15;33(2):E44-9

Date

01/17/2008

Pubmed ID

18197090

DOI

10.1097/BRS.0b013e318160462a

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-38149007216 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   88 Citations

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Clinical literature consistently identifies women as more susceptible to trauma-related neck pain, commonly resulting from soft tissue cervical spine injury. Structural gender differences may explain altered response to dynamic loading in women leading to increased soft tissue distortion and greater injury susceptibility.

OBJECTIVE: Identify anatomic gender differences in cervical spinal geometry that contribute to decreased column stability in women.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies investigating male and female vertebral and vertebral body geometry demonstrated female vertebral dimensions were smaller. However, populations were not size matched and parameters related to biomechanical stability were not reported.

METHODS: Computed tomography scans of the cervical spine were obtained from size-matched young healthy volunteers. Geometrical dimensions were obtained at the C4 level and analysis of variance determined significant gender differences.

RESULTS: Two volunteer subsets were size matched based on sitting height and head circumference. All geometrical measures were greater in men for both subsets. Vertebral width and disc-facet depth were significantly greater in men. Additionally, segmental support area, combining interfacet width and disc-facet depth, was greater in men, indicating more stable intervertebral coupling.

CONCLUSION: Present results of decreased linear and areal cervical dimensions leading to decreased column stability may partially explain increased traumatic injury rates in women.

Author List

Stemper BD, Yoganandan N, Pintar FA, Maiman DJ, Meyer MA, DeRosia J, Shender BS, Paskoff G

Authors

Frank A. Pintar PhD Chair, Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Brian Stemper PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Narayan Yoganandan PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena
Cervical Vertebrae
Female
Humans
Male
Sex Factors
Tomography, X-Ray Computed