Cervical spinal stenosis: determination with vertebral body ratio method.

Abstract

Transient bilateral sensory and motor symptoms after trauma, including complete paralysis, have been identified in patients with cervical spinal stenosis. Radiographs of 23 patient athletes with cervical spinal neurapraxia were used for measurement of the cervical spinal canal. Two methods of measurement were used. In the conventional method, sagittal diameter is measured from the posterior surface of the vertebral body to the nearest point of the corresponding laminar line. In the ratio method, the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal is divided by the sagittal diameter of the corresponding vertebral body. Results indicate the ratio method is reliable for determining cervical spinal stenosis and is independent of technical factor variables.

Radiological pathogenesis of cervical myelopathy in 60 consecutive patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament

“…8 The total ROM of the cervical spine was determined as the sum of the intersectional ROM from C1-2 to C6-7. The narrowing ratio of the spinal canal 1 and the Pavlov ratio 9 were measured on lateral radiographs in the neutral position (Figure 1). To assess dynamic factors for cervical myelopathy, we calculated the per cent ROM using the formula: per cent ROM=(ROM at intervertebral disc level responsible for myelopathy/total ROM)6100, or (ROM at intervertebral disc level of maximal compression of the spinal cord/total ROM)6100.…”

“…Use of the actual measurement in millimeters on lateral view of the cervical spine to document spinal stenosis is likely to be misleading because there is wide variance in the object-to-®lm distance and focus-to-®lm distance. 9 For this reason we used the Pavlov ratio for assessing spinal canal stenosis. Matsunaga et al 5 used a method of measuring the ROM in the cervical spine based solely on the relationship between the C1 and C7 vertebrae.…”

Traumatic central cord syndrome after blunt cervical trauma: a pediatric case report

“…The underlying congenital narrowing can be assessed with the Pavlov or Torg ratio. 10 This is a ratio of canal size to anterior-to-posterior vertebral body dimension on the lateral X-ray that should be 40. 82.…”

“…82. 10 Cervical dynamic X-rays have an important role in the radiographic assessment of the eventually associated discoligamentous instability. 11 Significant radiographic pathologic views may or may not accompany the injury in plain radiographs.…”

Novo método radiográfico para a determinação de estenose do canal cervical

“…Entre os diversos estudos que utilizam a medida direta do canal cervical na incidência perfil da radiografia há grande variação nos valores normativos. Isto acontece devido a variações no método de obtenção das radiografias, em especial pelas diferentes distâncias utilizadas até a lâmina da radiografia 3,4 . Por este motivo, o índice de Torg passou a ser preferido, uma vez provou-se reprodutível e independente de variáveis técnicas .…”