[The postnatal development of the frontal axial angle of the occipitoatlantal complex].
OBJECTIVE
The frontal axial angle of the occipitoatlantal complex in adults is well known. Clinical radiological investigations of the infantile cervical spine indicate other proportions. Extensive radiological studies concerning the postnatal development of the frontal axial angle are unknown. Knowledge about the special biomechanical relation of the infantile cervical spine is necessary for understanding several high cervical irritation syndromes in newborns.


METHODS
To measure the occipitoatlantal angle C0/C1, 1016 AP radiographs of the upper cervical spine were investigated. The radiographs were obtained on female and male patients ranging from 0 - 10 years of age.


RESULTS
The frontal axial angle C0/C1 is distinctly flatter in infants (153 degrees in newborns at the age of 0 to 3 months) and only approaches an adult state after the 10 th year of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The distinctly flatter configuration of the frontal axial angle C0/C1 in newborns could be interpreted as constituting a different morphology for better adaptation to the biomechanical strain of the upper cervical spine during labor. The postnatal development of the frontal axial angle of the occipitoatlantal complex is illustrated.
Sacher
R
R
Dortmund. Robby.Sacher@aol.com
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001846:Bone Development / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D011859:Radiography; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*