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Tudose RC, Rusu MC, Hostiuc S. The Vertebral Artery: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of the Current Literature. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:2036. [PMID: 37370931 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13122036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background. The anatomical variations of the vertebral arteries (VAs) have a significant impact both in neurosurgery and forensic pathology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the variational anatomy of the vertebral artery. We evaluated anatomical aspects regarding the V1 and V2 segments of the VA: origin, course, tortuosity, hypoplasia, and dominance, and established the prevalence of each variation. (2) Methods. We conducted a systematic search in PubMed and Google Scholar databases, up to December 2022. Sixty-two studies, comprising 32,153 vessels, were included in the current meta-analysis. We used a random-effects model with a DerSimonian-Laird estimator. The confidence intervals were set at 95%. The heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I2. The funnel plot and Egger's regression test for plot asymmetry were used for the evaluation of publication bias. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. (3) Results. The most common site for the origin of both VAs was the subclavian artery. The aortic arch origin of the left VA had a prevalence of 4.81%. Other origins of the right VAs were noted: aortic arch (0.1%), right common carotid artery (0.1%), and brachiocephalic trunk (0.5%). Ninety-two percent of the VAs entered the transverse foramen (TF) of the C6 vertebra, followed by C5, C7, C4, and least frequently, C3 (0.1%). Roughly one out of four (25.9%) VAs presented a sort of tortuosity, the transversal one representing the most common variant. Hypoplasia occurred in 7.94% of the vessels. Left VA dominance (36.1%) is more common, compared to right VA dominance (25.3%). (4) Conclusions. The anatomy of the VA is highly irregular, and eventual intraoperative complications may be life-threatening. The prevalence of VA origin from the subclavian artery is 94.1%, 92.0% of the VAs entered the TF at C6, 26.6% were tortuous, and 7.94% were hypoplastic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Răzvan Costin Tudose
- Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mugurel Constantin Rusu
- Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Sorin Hostiuc
- Division of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Faculty of Dentistry, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
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Iwanaga J, Boggio NA, Bui CJ, Dumont AS, Tubbs RS. Can anatomical feasibility studies drive neurosurgical procedures and reach patients faster than traditional translational research? Neurosurg Rev 2021; 45:891-896. [PMID: 34409576 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-021-01626-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Often, surgical techniques are practiced and studied in the anatomy laboratory. Occasionally, new surgical methods are developed with cadaveric anatomical studies. Some cadaveric feasibility studies, if published, might go on to be used by surgeons from around the world for improved patient care. Herein, we review our experience with 37 published anatomical feasibility studies over an 18-year period (2002-2020) and analyze the literature for published examples of surgical application of these same anatomical studies. We found that, for cadaveric anatomical feasibility studies within 7 years of their publication date, approximately 22% will be used in neurosurgery with the clinical applications published. Of these studies awarded clinical citation within 7 years of publication, the median time to that citation was approximately 3.4 years. As the average time for translational research to reach patient care is 17 years, cadaveric anatomical studies in this series reached patient care much sooner than traditional translational research. Cadaveric anatomical studies, based on our experience, can drive neurosurgical procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Iwanaga
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. .,Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA. .,Division of Gross and Clinical Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Nicole A Boggio
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - C J Bui
- Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Aaron S Dumont
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - R Shane Tubbs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, 131 S. Robertson St. Suite 1300, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.,Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.,Department of Neurology, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA.,Department of Surgery, Tulane Center for Clinical Neurosciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
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