A new superficial landmark for the odontoid process: a cadaveric study

When image guidance is not available or when there is a need to confirm the findings of such technology, superficial landmarks can still play a role in providing surgeons with estimations of the position of deeper anatomical structures. To our knowledge, surface landmarks for the position of the odo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anatomical science international 2018-03, Vol.93 (2), p.203-206
Main Authors: Fisahn, Christian, Montalbano, Michael J., Iwanaga, Joe, Moisi, Marc, Loukas, Marios, Chapman, Jens R., Oskouian, Rod J., Tubbs, R. Shane
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anatomy
Animal Anatomy
Animal Physiology
Cadaver
Cadavers
Cell Biology
Female
Histology
Human Physiology
Humans
Lip
Male
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Morphology
Neurosciences
Odontoid Process - anatomy & histology
Odontoid Process - diagnostic imaging
Original Article
Radiography
Rods
Spine (cervical)
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:When image guidance is not available or when there is a need to confirm the findings of such technology, superficial landmarks can still play a role in providing surgeons with estimations of the position of deeper anatomical structures. To our knowledge, surface landmarks for the position of the odontoid process have not been investigated. We have therefore performed an anatomical study to investigate such a landmark. One-centimeter metallic rods were placed on the philtrum of the upper lip of 20 cadaveric head specimens. To assess the position relative to the odontoid process, we took lateral and anteroposterior radiographs and recorded the measurements. Descriptive findings from radiographic observations indicated a reasonable approximation between the philtrum and the midpoint of the odontoid process. Based on our results, we suggest that the philtrum of the upper lip can serve as a first line estimation of the position of the odontoid process and can assist in verifying this bony structure following the use of image guidance.
ISSN:1447-6959
1447-073X
DOI:10.1007/s12565-017-0390-1