RESEARCH PAPER
Use of multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) and 3-dimentional (3D) CT to assess stability criteria in C2 vertebral fractures
 
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1
II Department of Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
 
2
Department of Traumatology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland
 
3
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Lukas Hospital in Tarnów, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Witold Krupski   

II Department of Radiology, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-081 Lublin, Poland.
 
 
J Pre Clin Clin Res. 2007;1(1):80-83
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The aim of the research was to assess the possibility of use of Roy-Camille’s criteria to estimate the stability of axis fractures on CT images using multi-planar (MPR) and 3-dimensional (3D) reconstructions. 10 patients, aged 17-73 (mean 48.7), with C2 fractures and cervical spine radiograms performed previously, underwent CT examinations supplemented with secondary MPR and 3D reconstructions. A dental fracture of type III, according to Anderson, was diagnosed in 4 patients, a Hangman’s fracture in 1 patient and a Roy-Camille’s fractures in 5 patients, with a co-existing C1 fracture in 1 patient. To estimate translations of vertebral bodies or bone fragments of the fractured dens, we used sagittal MPR and 3D reconstructions in the median plane and calculated the anterior translation (AT), posterior translation (PT) and regional angulation (RA). In 3 cases of dental fractures, PT of the dental fragment and of the axis vertebral body measured 5.5-7 mm. In 1 case of these fractures, AT was 3.5 mm. In 1 case of Hangman’s fracture we did not observe any translations. In 5 cases of Roy-Camille’s fractures, AT was < 3.5 mm in 1 patient and > 3.5 mm in 4 patients. The biggest AT measured 6 mm. On axial CT images translations could be visualised only in 3 cases. In 2 patients, RA was -1 and 6°. It was concluded that the use of multi-planar and 3D reconstructions on CT images enables assessment of AT, PA and RA in order to determine the stability criteria in C2 vertebral fractures.
 
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