Abstract
Purpose
The uppermost segment of the cervical vertebra or atlas (C1) is a critically important anatomical structure, housing the medulla oblongata and containing the grooves for the C1 spinal nerve and the vertebral vessels. Variations of the C1 vertebra can affect upper spine stability, and morphometric parameters have been reported to differ by population. However, there are few data regarding these parameters in Thais. The use of this bone to predict sex and age has never been reported.
Methods
This study aimed to examine C1 morphometry and determine its ability to predict sex. Twelve diameter parameters were taken from the C1 vertebrae of identified skeletons (n = 104, males [n, 54], females [n, 50]). Correlation analysis was also performed for sex and age, which were predicted using machine learning algorithms.
Results
The results showed that 8 of the 12 measured parameters were significantly longer in the male atlas (p < 0.05), while the remaining 4 (distance between both medial-most edges of the transverse foramen, transverse dimension of the superior articular surface, frontal plane passing through the canal’s midpoint, and anteroposterior dimension of the inferior articular surface) did not differ significantly by sex. There was no statistically significant difference in these parameters on the lateral side. The decision stump classifier was trained on C1 parameters, and the resulting model could predict sex with 82.6% accuracy (root mean square error = 0.38).
Conclusion
Assertation of the morphometric parameters of the atlas is important for preoperative assessment, especially for the treatment of atlas dislocation. Our findings also highlighted the potential use of atlas measurements for sex prediction.
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Code availability
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Acknowledgements
The authors sincerely thank those who donated their bodies to science so that anatomical research could be performed. Results from such research can potentially increase mankind's overall knowledge that can then improve patient care. Therefore, these donors and their families deserve our highest gratitude [11]. We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Dylan Southard for editing this MS via the KKU Publication Clinic (Thailand).
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CP, AS and AC: protocol and project establishment. TC, YK and LY: data collection, material resources. AC, AS, CN, SI: data analysis. AC, SI: manuscript writing and editing.
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The Office of The Khon Kaen University Ethics Committee in Human Research has approved this study (approval number: HE631363).
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Poodendan, C., Suwannakhan, A., Chawalchitiporn, T. et al. Morphometric analysis of dry atlas vertebrae in a northeastern Thai population and possible correlation with sex. Surg Radiol Anat 45, 175–181 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03076-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-03076-6