Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Bratislava Medical Journal, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Purpose: To demonstrate age-dependent changes in dimensions of C6-T3 vertebrae in children for pedicle screw surgery. Methods: Radiologic images of 180 pediatric subjects aged 1–18 years were evaluated retrospectively. Results: In all vertebrae (C6-T3) at the cervicothoracic junction, the pedicle thickness (p < 0.001), pedicle axis length (p < 0.001), pedicle height (p < 0.001), spinal canal’s transverse diameter (p < 0.001), spinal canal’s sagittal diameter (p < 0.001) and interpedicular distance (p < 0.001) increased with advancing pediatric age (from one year to 18 years), but the transverse and sagittal pedicle angles decreased (p < 0.001). From C6 to T3, the pedicle axis length (p < 0.001) and sagittal pedicle angle (p < 0.001) increased proportionally, but the spinal canal’s transverse diameter (p < 0.001) and transverse pedicle angle (p < 0.001) decreased proportionally. The pedicle height (p < 0.001) decreased from C6 to C7, but then increased until T3. The interpedicular distance (p < 0.001) increased from C6 to C7, but then decreased until T3. The pedicle thickness (p < 0.001) increased from C6 to T1, and then decreased up to T3. The spinal canal’s sagittal diameter (p < 0.001) was statistically similar in C6 and C7, but then increased up to T2. Conclusion: Our morphometric data regarding vertebral pedicle anatomy located at the cervicothoracic junction may be beneficial for surgeons to form a region-specific clinical strategy in children.