PURPOSE: Intra-articular synovial folds of the cervical spine are considered to be a potential source of neck @entity158 and disability. The purpose of the present study was to devise and validate a method to determine the normal morphometry of the synovial folds as a basis for understanding their functional and clinical significance. METHODS: Nine cadaver cervical spines were sectioned in the sagittal plane. The presence of the synovial folds at the @entity9807 was determined and their morphology described. Depth of projection, cross-sectional area and volume of the ventral and dorsal synovial folds of the right and left @entity9807 were measured from sagittal sections and compared. The relationship between synovial fold dimensions and subject age and @entity528 were determined. Repeat measurements were made for the calculation of method reliability, and the water displacement method was used to determine method validity. RESULTS: There was a trend for ventral synovial folds to be larger than dorsal synovial folds. There was no correlation between synovial fold dimensions and age and extent of @entity528 . Measurement reliability ranged from intraclass correlation coefficient 0.95-1.00 (intra-observer), 0.95-1.00 (test-retest) and 0.61-1.00 (inter-observer). Limits of agreement for the sectional and water displacement methods for the measurement of synovial fold volume were -1.04      3.35  mm(3). CONCLUSIONS: A reliable method for quantifying synovial fold dimensions was devised. The results of this study provide a basis for the determination and diagnosis of pathologies affecting the synovial folds.

Morphometry of the synovial folds of the @entity9807 : the anatomical basis for understanding their potential role in neck XXXX .

@entity9807 :: ('MESH:C538196', 'Disease') :: ['lateral atlanto-axial joints'] @entity528 :: ('MESH:D009410', 'Disease') :: ['cartilage degeneration'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain']
@entity158 :: (MESH:D010146,Disease) :: ['pain']
