Morphometric analysis of dry atlas vertebrae in a northeastern Thai population and possible correlation with sex
Issued Date
2023-02-01
Resource Type
ISSN
09301038
eISSN
12798517
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85145741573
Pubmed ID
36602583
Journal Title
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy
Volume
45
Issue
2
Start Page
175
End Page
181
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Vol.45 No.2 (2023) , 175-181
Suggested Citation
Poodendan C., Suwannakhan A., Chawalchitiporn T., Kasai Y., Nantasenamat C., Yurasakpong L., Iamsaard S., Chaiyamoon A. Morphometric analysis of dry atlas vertebrae in a northeastern Thai population and possible correlation with sex. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Vol.45 No.2 (2023) , 175-181. 181. doi:10.1007/s00276-022-03076-6 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/82687
Title
Morphometric analysis of dry atlas vertebrae in a northeastern Thai population and possible correlation with sex
Other Contributor(s)
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.