Congenital Fusion of Typical Cervical Vertebrae

Developmental anomalies of the vertebral column are common especially in the cervical region and thus become the point of keen interest for a long time to the anatomists and related health professionals. Normal typical cervical vertebrae; i.e., 3rd to 6th are characterized by the presence of small body, triangular spinal canal, foramina transversarium, superior articular facet directed backwards and upward, inferior articular facet directed forward and downwards and a short bifid spine. Abnormalities in any of the features may be associated with neurological signs and symptoms. During routine osteology classes, we found two abnormally fused typical cervical vertebrae specimens in the Department of Anatomy, Desh Bhagat Dental College and Hospital, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, India. Both pairs of cervical vertebrae were unilaterally fused at the zygapophyseal joints on the right sides and in one of the case the laminas were also fused partially on the right side. Congenitally fused vertebrae results in biochemical stress in the adjoining segments of the vertebral column leading to premature degenerative change and this can lead to consequences like distal tear, spondylosis, among other problems.