Waqas Noor Chughtai, Muhammad Adeel Razzaque, Tanveer Ahmad, Sumera Nighat, Rahila Tahir, Bashir Ahmad.
Computerized Tomographic Based study of Thoracic Spine Morphology in Relevance to Pedicle Screw Fixation in Pakistani Population.
Pak J Neuro Surg Jan ;25(2):199-206.

Objective: To study the thoracic spine anatomy for accurate placement of pedicle screws using computerized tomography. Material and Methods: CT scans of 200 patients were included in our study. T1 to T12 vertebrae morphology was studied for each patient. Following measurements were taken, 1: Transverse pedicle width, 2 = Depth of anterior cortex along pedicle axis, 3 = Transverse pedicle angle, 4 = canal dimensions, 5 = vertebral body height anterior and posterior, 6 = mid vertebral body width. Results: Transverse pedicle width decreased from T1 (4.06 +- 0.50 mm) to T4 (3.72 +- 0.17 mm) and then gradually increases to T12 (6.08 +- 0.60 mm). Depth of the anterior vertebral cortex remained constant from T1 to T4 and gradually increases up to T12. Transverse pedicle angle remained constant from T1 to T4 with a maximum at T4 (23.39 +- 3.15 mm) and then gradually decreased to T12 (3.99 +- 2.16 mm). Anteroposterior (AP) canal dimensions were minimum at T7 (17.03 +- 1.01 mm) and maximum at T2 (21.2 +- 1.07 mm). Interpedicular (IPD) canal dimensions were minimum at T6 (19.18 +- 1.6 mm) and maximum at T3 (23.18 +- 1.2umm). Anterior vertebral body height was minimum at T1 (16.9 +- 1.34 mm) and maximum at T12 (27.14 +- 1.34mm). Posterior vertebral body height was minimum at T1 (18.8 +- 1.13 mm) and maximum at T12 (29.76 +- 1.43 mm). Conclusion: A detailed anatomy of the thoracic spine is essential for surgical planning to decrease postoperative complications.

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