title: Radiological Parameters of Undegenerated Cervical Vertebral Segments in a Korean Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several scoring systems for cervical disc and facet joint degeneration, using radiography or computed tomography, have been developed and tested for reliability. However, definitions of disc height and facet joint space narrowing vary. To our knowledge, no study has reported quantitative data for normal radiologic values of the cervical spine in the Korean population. The purpose of this study is to determine normal cervical disc height, disc height ratio, and facet joint space values, and investigate the correlation between demographic data and these values.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study of patients who underwent artificial disc replacement of the cervical spine. Disc heights and facet joint spaces were measured using cervical neutral lateral radiographs and computed tomography. The means, standard deviations, and 95% confidence intervals of the values were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We measured 148 intervertebral discs and 352 posterior facet joints. The mean disc height measured by plain radiography and computed tomography was 5.57 ± 0.81 mm and 4.94 ± 0.94 mm, respectively. The mean facet joint space values measured by plain radiography and computed tomography were 1.94 ± 0.45 mm and 1.43 ± 0.39 mm, respectively. The disc heights and facet joint space values measured by plain radiography were greater than those measured by computed tomography. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval of the disc height ratio calculated by plain radiography and computed tomography was greater than 0.94 at all levels except for C5-6. Patient height and disc height showed a tendency of positive correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a Korean population, the normal cervical disc height was about 5.0 mm and the normal facet joint space was 1.4 mm. Disc height ratio can reliably identify normal cervical disc height in patients with mild degeneration. Patient height was positively correlated with disc height and facet joint space. Thus, when selecting a cervical implant, surgeons should consider patient height as well as estimated normal disc height.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Elim Orthopedic Clinic, Anyang, Korea.
authors.forename: HeeSang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Il
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012015:Reference Standards; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Cervical spine; Disc degeneration; Intervertebral disc; Zygapophyseal joint