A Morphometric And Volumetric Analysis of Odontoid Process using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

CBCT Analysis of Odontoid Process Morphometry

Abstract

1. This study investigates the morphometric and volumetric characteristics of the odontoid process in an Indian population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The research analysed 60 subjects (30 male and 30 female) aged 18-60 years, examining parameters such as volume, maximum internal and external transverse diameters, anterior-posterior length, apex to body length, maximum vertical length, and odontoid retroversion angle. Significant sex-based differences were observed in most dimensions, with males generally exhibiting larger measurements. Volume showed significant variations across both sex and age groups. The study revealed important population-specific data, highlighting differences from previous research in other populations. CBCT proved valuable for detailed odontoid morphometrics, though limitations such as poor soft tissue contrast were noted. The findings contribute to improving diagnostic accuracy, surgical planning, and understanding of cervical spine biomechanics in the Indian population. The research emphasises the importance of population-specific and sex-specific data in clinical applications, particularly for surgical interventions involving the odontoid process. Future studies are recommended to employ multi-modal imaging approaches and larger, more diverse population samples to further refine our understanding of odontoid process variations across different demographic groups.