Radiographic evaluation of the upper cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective analysis.

We analysed retrospectively 295 lateral roentgenograms of the cervical spine in 150 patients with classic or definite rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to measuring the atlantodental interval, measurements of the different vertical parameters described by McGregor, Ranawat and Redlund-Johnell and a new measurement method with high reproducibility were described and their results compared statistically. As a control group we analysed 100 lateral roentgenograms of the cervical spine in patients with no inflammatory disease, posttraumatic lesion, tumour or osseous deformity.