Morphological Status of Cervical Vertebrae (C3-C7) in Patients in West of Iran

Introduction: The cervical spine, endowed with significant mobility due to two specialized vertebrae connected to the skull, can suffer from unnatural positioning, leading to asymmetry and injuries. This study was conducted to examine the morphological status of cervical vertebrae (C3-C7) in a clinical population. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 450 patients with neck trauma between December 2018 and August 2019 at Taleghani Hospital, a tertiary referral center in Kermanshah, Iran. Demographic data, including age, gender, height, and BMI, were collected. Morphological measurements were obtained from CT scans, complemented by MRI in selected cases. Parameters included vertebral body dimensions, foramina size, and facet lengths. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v22. Quantitative variables were assessed with t-tests and ANOVA. A significance level of P<0.05 was considered. Results: Significant differences were found in the dimensions of vertebrae C3–C7 among demographic subgroups (P<0.01). Vertebral body width, length, height, and foramina dimensions were generally larger in males, patients over 60 years old, individuals taller than 180 cm, and those with higher BMI values. Conclusion: The study concludes that the vertebral body dimensions at levels C3–C7 are significantly larger in males, individuals over 60 years of age, those taller than 180 cm, and those with higher BMI values.