title: Morphometric evaluation of the uncinate process and its importance in surgical approaches to the cervical spine: a cadaveric study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The uncinate process (UP) has an important role because of its relationship with the vertebral artery and spinal roots. Degenerative diseases cause osteophyte formation on the UP, leading to radiculopathy, myelopathy and vertebral vascular insufficiency, which may require surgical management. This study aimed to evaluate the morphometry of this region to shed light on the anatomy of the UP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphometric data was obtained from 13 male formaldehyde-fixed cadavers. Direct measurements were obtained using a metal caliper. Computed tomography (CT) morphometry was performed with the cadavers in the supine position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Direct cadaveric measurements showed that the height of the UP increased from C3 (5.8 ± 1.0 mm) to C7 (6.6 ± 0.5 mm). On CT, the corresponding measurements were 5.9 ± 1.2 mm at C3 and 6.9 ± 0.6 mm at C7. The distance between the left and right apex of the UP from C3 to C7 also increased on both direct cadaveric and CT measurements (C3: 20.8 ± 1.0 mm and C7: 28.1 ± 2.4 mm vs. C3: 23.7 ± 3.4 mm and C7: 29.0 ± 3.0 mm, respectively). On CT, the distance between the UP and superior articular process at the C3 to C7 levels were 9.8 ± 1.7 mm, 7.9 ± 1.8 mm, 7.9 ± 1.6 mm, 7.8 ± 1.3 mm and 8.2 ± 1.7 mm, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct cadaveric and CT measurements of the UP are useful for preoperative evaluation of the cervical spine and may lead to better surgical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güvençer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ümraniye Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnostics, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Men
authors.affiliation: Clinics of Neurosurgery, Denizli State Hospital, Denizli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Salih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sayhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tetik
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005557:Formaldehyde
keywords: cervical spine; cervical surgical approaches; morphometric study; surgical anatomy; uncinate process