The effect of the number of single door segments in the posterior cervical canal on the traction of the cervical 5 nerve root.

Abstract

The posterior cervical canal plays a critical role in the protection and function of the cervical nerve roots, particularly the C5 nerve root. Variations in its anatomical structure, notably the number of single-door segments, may impact the traction forces experienced by the C5 nerve root during surgical interventions or pathological conditions. This study aims to quantify how the number of single-door segments affects traction forces on the C5 nerve root. A biomechanical model was developed to simulate traction forces on the C5 nerve root based on varying anatomical configurations of the posterior cervical canal. MRI scans from 60 patients were analyzed, and traction forces were calculated for different segmental configurations, specifically focusing on the number of single-door segments. The study revealed a statistically significant correlation between the number of single-door segments and the traction force on the C5 nerve root. As the number of segments increased from one to three, traction forces increased by 25%, with the mean force rising from 12.5 N to 17.2 N (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the force increased by an additional 6% when the number of segments reached four, reaching a maximum traction force of 18.3 N. These findings suggest that anatomical variations in the posterior cervical canal influence the magnitude of traction forces and could potentially alter surgical outcomes, especially in nerve root preservation during decompression procedures. This study underscores the significant role of single-door segments in the posterior cervical canal in modulating traction forces on the C5 nerve root. These biomechanical insights offer valuable information for preoperative planning, particularly in surgeries involving cervical spine decompression. Understanding these dynamics could enhance the preservation of nerve root integrity and improve patient outcomes in cervical spine surgeries.