Prevertebral space explained

The prevertebral space is a space in the neck.

On one side it is bounded by the prevertebral fascia.^[1]

On the other side, some sources define it as bounded by the vertebral bodies,^[2] and others define it as bounded by the longus colli.^[3]

It includes the prevertebral muscles (longus colli and longus capitis), vertebral artery, vertebral vein, scalene muscles, phrenic nerve and part of the brachial plexus.^[4]

In trauma, an increased thickness of the prevertebral space is a sign of injury, and can be measured with medical imaging.^[5]

Clinical significance

On plain radiography, prevertebral space should be less than 6 mm at C3 vertebral level in children; while in adults, the space should be less than 6 mm at C2 level and less than 22 mm at C6 level. Causes of enlarged prevertebral space could be edema, hematoma, abscess, tumors, and post surgical changes.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: eMedicine - Retropharyngeal Abscess : Article by Todd J Berger, MD . 2008-02-18 .
2. Web site: Deep Neck Space Infections: Changing Trends . 2008-02-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070319235431/http://www.bcm.edu/oto/grand/10694.html . March 19, 2007 .
3. Web site: eMedicine - Retropharyngeal Abscess : Article by Todd J Berger, MD . 2008-02-18 .
4. Web site: Prevertebral space cervical. GE. Medcyclopaedia.
5. Rojas. C.A.. Vermess. D.. Bertozzi. J.C.. Whitlow. J.. Guidi. C.. Martinez. C.R.. Normal Thickness and Appearance of the Prevertebral Soft Tissues on Multidetector CT. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 30. 1. 2009. 136–141. 0195-6108. 10.3174/ajnr.A1307. free. 7051716.
6. Debnam JM, Guha-Thakurta N . Retropharyngeal and prevertebral spaces: anatomic imaging and diagnosis . Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America . 45 . 6 . 1293–310 . December 2012 . 23153750 . 3994542 . 10.1016/j.otc.2012.08.004 .