There are numerous indications for stabilization using instrumentation of the upper cervical spine. This area is comprised of sophisticated anatomy. There is no study describing bony and vascular anomalies of this area in the middle European population. The main aim of this study was to investigate prevalence of any vertebral artery (VA) variations and osseous anomalies in the region of the craniocervical junction in a large sample of Czech patients based on three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography (3D CTA). The VA has a variable course through C2 before it passes above its groove on the posterior arch of C1. The artery can course more medially, more posteriorly or more superiorly, thus limiting the diameter of the bony elements used as landmarks for the safe insertion of metalwork. This is known as a high-riding VA (HRVA). The VA was considered HRVA in this study if the thickness of the C2 isthmus was less than 5 mm and/or the C2 internal height was less than 2 mm and/or the width of the C2 pedicle was less than 4 mm. The prevalence of ponticulus posticus (PP) was also identified. Following the VA variations in the V3 segment of the artery were persistent first intersegmental artery (FIA), fenestration (FEN) of the VA, and the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) branch originating from the C1/2 part of VA. Records of 511 patients from our institution were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 63.6 years. One hundred and twenty-three (24.1 %) patients were identified to have HRVA, 30 (6 %) present on both sides. The age of patient over 70 years and female sex were found to be significant risk factors for HRVA presence. The prevalence of a nearby PICA branch was 4 %, FIA was 0.4 %, and FEN was 0.2 %. The presence of PP was identified in 14.3 % of patients. The HRVA and PP are common anomalies in the Czech population, and routine preoperative high-resolution CT evaluation is mandatory to prevent the VA injury when C1-C2 instrumentation is planned. The female sex and age over 70 years were found to be the most important factors for HRVA presence. The FIA and the FEN VA were rare in our study contrary to reports published from Asia, showing as many as a 10 % the VA presence over the starting point for C1 lateral screw. On the basis of the infrequent occurrence of these anomalies, we do not recommend routine CT angiography when upper cervical spine instrumentation in the normal population is planned.

Department of Anatomy and Biomechanics Faculty of Physical education and Sport Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Neuroradiology Military University Hospital Prague Czech Republic

Department of Neurosurgery and Neurooncology 1st Medical Faculty Military University Hospital and Charles University U Vojenské Nemocnice 1200 169 02 Prague 6 Czech Republic

Department of Neurosurgery Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield UK

See more in PubMed

Skeletal Radiol. 2006 Sep;35(9):679-83 PubMed

Stroke. 1987 Sep-Oct;18(5):849-55 PubMed

Neuroradiology. 2014 Oct;56(10 ):843-9 PubMed

Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003 Mar;(408):162-6 PubMed

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014 Aug 15;39(18):E1053-7 PubMed

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2008 Aug 15;33(18):2007-11 PubMed

Spine J. 2014 Jul 1;14 (7):1351-5 PubMed

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2012 Oct 15;37(22):E1389-97 PubMed

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2006 Jul 1;31(15):E513-7 PubMed

J Neurosurg. 1999 Feb;90(2):376-7 PubMed

Neuroradiology. 1985;27(5):410-3 PubMed

Asian Spine J. 2007 Jun;1(1):27-31 PubMed

Neuroradiology. 2012 Jan;54(1):19-23 PubMed

J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005 Nov;87(11):2495-8 PubMed

J Neurosurg. 1998 Apr;88(4):634-40 PubMed

Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2001 Nov 15;26(22):2467-71 PubMed

J Neurosurg. 1997 Jun;86(6):961-8 PubMed

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2009 Feb;129(2):177-82 PubMed

J Neurosurg Spine. 2005 Feb;2(2):155-63 PubMed

J Neurosurg Spine. 2005 Nov;3(5):409-14 PubMed