title: Computed tomographic morphometric analysis of the pediatric occipital condyle for occipital condyle screw placement.
abstract: METHODS
  This study is a computed tomographic (CT)-based morphometric analysis of the pediatric occipital condyles as related to occipital condyle screw placement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify reference data concerning the dimensions of the immature occipital condyles to guide the placement of occipital condyle screw.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  To the best of our knowledge, no published study has provided insight into the anatomy of occipital condyle of the pediatric population with different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine pediatric patients were divided into 4 age groups, and their occipital condyles were studied on CT scans. Condylar length, width, height, sagittal angle, and sagittal angle lengths were measured on Philips Brilliance 16 CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean pediatric coronal height, sagittal length, and axial width noted statistically significant age-related differences were 9.0 mm, 21.3 mm, and 9.8 mm, respectively. The mean sagittal angle for all patients was 27.2 ± 5.1° (range, 15.1-41.0°). In 82.6% (114/138) of the occipital condyles, the anatomy could accept the occipital condyle screw (width ≥8 mm and height ≥6.5 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our investigation provides insight into the anatomy of occipital condyle of the pediatric population with different age groups. As the pediatric occipital condyles have sufficient occipital bone for appropriate fixation or fusion, the occipital condyle screws fixation is a feasible technique for children. Even so, given the evolution of this technique being still in its infancy and the complexity inherent to the craniovertebral junction, a careful radiological analysis of occipital condyle must be required in preoperative planning and feasibility determination.
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Orthopaedic Surgery and †Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Lei
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Dong-Dong
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhong-Hai
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Xiang-Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua-Zi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yong-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001863:Bone Screws; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*