Sagittal Plane Geometry of Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Endplates

De Assis, R.R.; Barbosa, M.N.; Defino, H.L.A.; De Assis, R.R; Barbosa, M.N; Defino, H.L.A

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Sagittal Plane Geometry of Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Endplates

De Assis, R.R.; Barbosa, M.N.; Defino, H.L.A.

International Journal of Spine Surgery 16(5): 792-799

2022

ISSN/ISBN: 2211-4599

PMID: 36302610

Accession: 080616885

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Summary

Many studies have emphasized the importance of interface contact between implants and the vertebral endplate (VE). The goal of this study was to analyze the shape and other specific parameters of the VE to provide reference data for better implant interface contact in intervertebral disc space procedures. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine midsagittal plane magnetic resonance images of 100 adults (58 women) were analyzed. The morphology of the VEs was classified as concave, convex, flat, or irregular. Midsagittal endplate length (ML), endplate concavity depth (ECD), and endplate concavity axis (ECA) location were measured in the midsagittal plane. The parameters were compared between the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines and between the sexes. The VE morphology, ML, ECD, and ECA showed variations along the spine, mainly in the cervical and lower lumbar spines. The sagittal geometry of the VE was not flat or uniform along the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines. Different morphological types were observed along different spinal segments and according to sex. In the cervical spine, the majority of cranial VEs were flat, while caudal VEs were mostly concave. Sagittal VE geometry should be taken into consideration during the use of intervertebral cages or disc arthroplasty.