A rare anatomical variation of the C7 pedicle and intraspinal course of the C7 nerve root.
We report a 58 year old man who presented with severe C7 radiculopathy which failed to respond to conservative measures. Subsequent CT and MR imaging of his cervical spine demonstrated C6/7 foraminal stenosis as well as unusual low take-off of the C7 nerve root in relation to a congenital low-set C7 pedicle, findings which were subsequently confirmed intra-operatively. The relevance of the bony and neural anatomy is described and its implications for surgical management are discussed. To our knowledge, this anatomical anomaly has not been previously highlighted in the published English literature.
Kern
Michael
M
Neurosurgical Service of Western Australia, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, G-Block, 1st Floor Hospital Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia. michael_kern@gmx.de
Lee
Gabriel Yin Foo
GY
D020968:Brachial Plexus Neuritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000002:abnormalities*; D016896:Treatment Outcome