Objective:
The aim of this study is to determine the normal range of intervertebral disc heights in the lower cervical region.
Materials and Methods:
50 male and 50 female adults who had no cervical trauma or history of pathology were included in the study. Data were collected retrospectively using patient files and the radiology archive. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging midline sagittal sections were taken, and measurement of the disc height was done in millimeters using a computer from a medium space.
Results:
The mean age was 40.06 ± 13.59 years for the male patients and 39.47 ± 12.61 years for the female patients. There were no statistically significant differences between the sexes with age. The median value of the C4–5 disc space height was 5.99 ± 0.94 in males and 5.77 ± 0.88 in females. The median value of the C5–6 disc space height was calculated as 6.07 ± 0.79 in males and 5.95 ± 0.92 in females. The median value of the C6–7 disc space height was calculated as 6.37 ± 0.72 in males and 6.22 ± 0.77 in females. No significant differences in the disc space heights were found between the sexes.
Conclusion:
The values ranged between 3 mm and 7 mm. Our results are similar to the literature, and support studies that report that the heights of cages and prosthetics used after discectomy should be between these ranges. As a result, it is suggested that the height of the implant used after cervical discectomy should be decided after measurement of the patient’s cervical intervertebral disc heights and the foramina stenosis ratio, to decrease the rate of complications such as neurological deficit and implant insufficiency.
Keywords: Cervical disc height, anterior cervical discectomy, cervical discopathy