#Cervical spine x ray report registration#

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a state-of-the-art imaging technique that provides diagnostic quality images with reasonably low radiation dose scanning protocols. Additionally, MRI, CT, and fluoroscopy have the respective drawbacks of a long scanning time, substantial radiation exposure, and motion artifacts. Although computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques can be used to obtain 3D in vivo measurements 16, 17, they are performed in subjects that are lying down and thus without physiological loading. The main limitation of 2D images, such as radiographs 10, 11, is lack of information about 3D movement characteristics 14, 15. Cadaveric studies cannot reproduce joint motion accurately due to the lack of muscular activities and a physiological environment 11. Traditionally, kinematic analyses of the cervical spine have been based on cadaveric simulations and on two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) images. Accurate measurement of spine kinematics is helpful for characterizing intervertebral changes, investigating biomechanical mechanisms of cervical spine pathology, and evaluating surgical outcomes 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, including assessing the effects of vertebral fusion on the mobility of adjacent vertebrae 10. The lifestyle changes that come with nation development have been associated with increased incidences and earlier onset of cervical spine pathology 1, 2, 3. The presently evaluated low-radiation-dose CBCT technique can be used to measure 3D spine kinematics in vivo across functional F–E, AR, and LB positions, which has been especially challenging for the upper cervical spine. Model matching demonstrated submillimeter accuracy in cervical spine kinematics data. During AR, most of the rotation occurred in the C1–C2 segment (29.93 ± 7.19° in left twist and 31.38 ± 8.49° in right twist) and coupled LB was observed in the direction opposite to that of the AR. During lateral bending (LB), the bending was distributed roughly evenly, with coupled axial rotation (AR) opposite to the LB at C1–C2, and minimal coupled F–E. During flexion–extension (F–E), the translation in the three directions was small, mostly < 1 mm, with coupled LB and AR both < 1°.

#Cervical spine x ray report registration#

Mean registration errors between end positions and the reference neutral position were < 0.7 mm. Relative to CT models, mean deviations of the CBCT models were < 0.6 mm. Registration errors and six degrees of freedom (6-DOF) kinematics were calculated and reported. CBCT model accuracy was validated by superimposition with computed tomography (CT) models in 10 healthy young adults, and then cervical vertebrae were registered in six end positions of functional movements, versus a neutral position, in 5 healthy young adults. To validate the accuracy of Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) cervical spine modeling with three dimensional (3D)-3D registration for in vivo measurements of cervical spine kinematics.