The Relationship between the Area and Position of the Vertebral Artery with Transverse Vertebral Foramen in People without Neurological Symptoms and Its Comparison on the Dominant and Non-Dominant Side

Abstract

Background: Assessments of the position and area of the vertebral artery (VA) may be particularly important especially preoperatively. Here, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the area and position of the vertebral artery with the transverse foramen (TF). Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that was performed during 2020-2021 in Al-Zahra hospital in Isfahan. At the first step, 100 patients were randomly selected to performing Color-Doppler ultrasound imaging. The dominant artery was identified by measuring blood flow volume in the two vertebral arteries and data were collected. Patients were then undergoing CT-angiography of the cervical arteries. The area of vertebral artery and transverse foramens as well as vertebral artery position inside transverse foramen at C4 level were measured. Findings: significantly larger than the opposite side. The ratio of vertebral artery to transverse foramen (VA/TF) was significantly higher on the dominant side than on the non-dominant side. We found no significant difference between the types of centrality in the dominant and non-dominant side, but in both sides the position of the vertebral artery inside the transverse foramen was significantly paracentral, especially anteromedial. Conclusion: area of the vertebral artery and the transverse foramen and the ratio of VA/TF were significantly higher on the dominant side than the non-dominant side. © 2023 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.