Evaluation of the Cervical Curvature Index of Apparently Healthy Nigerians

Spinal curvature is one of the most significant spine parameters for the evaluation of spinal deformities, providing support to various spine-related clinical measurements and image processing techniques. The purpose of this study was to determine normative reference values of the Cervical Spine Curvature Index in apparently healthy Nigerians and determine if the parameter has sex- discriminating attributes. The study was a prospective cross-sectional study involving 100 (62 males, 38 females) apparently healthy volunteers which underwent simple radiography of the lateral cervical spine. The radiographic data of interest, cervical curvature index was measured using digital tools. The result showed the mean cervical curvature of index to be 24.58±8.01 (%), 23.32±7.59 for males and 26.63±8.36 for females. It also exhibited sex-discriminating attribute. This study was able to establish reference normative values for the Cervical curvature index for the Nigerian population, a useful parameter in clinical and forensic science.

Key Words: Cervical spine, Cervical Curvature index, Nigeria