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. 2013:2013:957280.
doi: 10.1155/2013/957280. Epub 2013 Sep 10.

Incidence and variants of posterior arch defects of the atlas vertebra

Sebastian Guenkel  1 , Sladjana Schlaepfer, Sonja Gordic, Guido A Wanner, Hans-Peter Simmen, Clément M L Werner
Affiliations

Incidence and variants of posterior arch defects of the atlas vertebra

Sebastian Guenkel et al. Radiol Res Pract. 2013.

Abstract

In order to describe the incidence and existing variants of congenital anomalies of the atlas vertebrae in a Caucasian population, we examined 1069 CT scans of the upper cervical spine. We found 41 cases with altered atlas vertebrae, representing 3.8% of all analyzed patients. With 83% of all found anomalies, the predominant type is characterized by a small dorsal cleft (3.2% of all patients). Rare varieties feature unilateral or bilateral dorsal arch defects, combined anterior and posterior clefts (0.2% of all patients) or total erratic atlas vertebra malformation (0.1% of all patients). Atlas arch defects are found nearly 4% at the time. Most anomalies affect the posterior arch, whereas the anterior arch or both are rarely affected. Totally irregular C1 vertebrae are extremely infrequent.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Typical dorsal arch defect (according to Currarino et al. type A [2]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bipartite spondyloschisis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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