Swischuk L E, Swischuk P N, John S D
Department of Radiology, University of Texas Medical Branch (P.N.S.), Galveston 77550-2774.
Radiology. 1993 Aug;188(2):523-6. doi: 10.1148/radiology.188.2.8327708.
The vertebral body configurations of the cervical spine from C-3 to C-7 were analyzed in 481 pediatric patients to ascertain how often anterior tapering or wedging of C-3 (either of which may suggest a compression fracture) occurred, how often this configuration occurred at other levels, and why it occurred. The lateral radiographs of the cervical spine were retrospectively analyzed, and the configuration of the vertebral bodies was classified as type 1 (oval and immature), 2 (a vertebral body with a round anterior superior corner), 3 (anteriorly tapered), or 4 (rectangular, with a mature appearance). The patients were divided into four age groups: 0-3, 4-7, 8-12, and 13-19 years. The findings confirmed that cervical vertebral bodies early in infancy are oval and become more rectangular with age but that at C-3 normal wedging can persist. It is postulated that in some children chronic, exaggerated hypermobility causes chronic, repetitive impaction of the vertebral body of C-3 by C-2, a subclinical insult that could impair normal ossification or transformation of cartilage to bone at this site.
对481例儿科患者的C3至C7颈椎椎体形态进行了分析，以确定C3椎体前缘变细或楔形改变（二者均可能提示压缩性骨折）的发生频率、该形态在其他节段的发生频率以及其发生原因。对颈椎侧位X线片进行回顾性分析，椎体形态分为1型（椭圆形且未成熟）、2型（椎体前上角呈圆形）、3型（前缘变细）或4型（长方形，外观成熟）。患者分为四个年龄组：0至3岁、4至7岁、8至12岁和13至19岁。研究结果证实，婴儿早期颈椎椎体呈椭圆形，随年龄增长逐渐变为长方形，但C3椎体正常的楔形改变可能持续存在。据推测，在一些儿童中，慢性、过度的活动导致C2对C3椎体的慢性、重复性撞击，这是一种亚临床损伤，可能会损害该部位软骨正常的骨化或向骨的转化。
