A new superficial landmark for the odontoid process: a cadaveric study.
When image guidance is not available or when there is a need to confirm the findings of such technology, superficial landmarks can still play a role in providing surgeons with estimations of the position of deeper anatomical structures. To our knowledge, surface landmarks for the position of the odontoid process have not been investigated. We have therefore performed an anatomical study to investigate such a landmark. One-centimeter metallic rods were placed on the philtrum of the upper lip of 20 cadaveric head specimens. To assess the position relative to the odontoid process, we took lateral and anteroposterior radiographs and recorded the measurements. Descriptive findings from radiographic observations indicated a reasonable approximation between the philtrum and the midpoint of the odontoid process. Based on our results, we suggest that the philtrum of the upper lip can serve as a first line estimation of the position of the odontoid process and can assist in verifying this bony structure following the use of image guidance.
Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500 James Tower, 5th Floor, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA. christian.fisahn@gmail.com.|Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA. christian.fisahn@gmail.com.|Department of Trauma Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany. christian.fisahn@gmail.com.
Christian
C
Fisahn
Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
Michael J
MJ
Montalbano
Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
Joe
J
Iwanaga
Department of Neurosurgery, Wayne State University Detroit, Detroit, MI, USA.
Marc
M
Moisi
Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, True Blue, Grenada.
Marios
M
Loukas
Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500 James Tower, 5th Floor, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
Jens R
JR
Chapman
Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Suite 500 James Tower, 5th Floor, Seattle, WA, 98122, USA.
Rod J
RJ
Oskouian
Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA.
R Shane
RS
Tubbs
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip; D008297:Male; D009809:Odontoid Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography
Anatomy; Axis; Cervical spine; Landmarks; Odontoid process; Philtrum