Incidence and Variants of Posterior Arch Defects of the Atlas Vertebra

Abstract EN

In order to describe the incidence and existing variants of congenital anomalies of the atlas vertebrae in a Caucasian population, we examined 1069 CT scans of the upper cervical spine.

We found 41 cases with altered atlas vertebrae, representing 3.8% of all analyzed patients.

With 83% of all found anomalies, the predominant type is characterized by a small dorsal cleft (3.2% of all patients).

Rare varieties feature unilateral or bilateral dorsal arch defects, combined anterior and posterior clefts (0.2% of all patients) or total erratic atlas vertebra malformation (0.1% of all patients).

Atlas arch defects are found nearly 4% at the time.

Most anomalies affect the posterior arch, whereas the anterior arch or both are rarely affected.

Totally irregular C1 vertebrae are extremely infrequent.