[Magnetic resonance tomography in spinal trauma].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of MR imaging in the acute and chronic stages of spinal trauma.


METHODS
126 MR examinations of 120 patients were evaluated retrospectively. In 15 cases of acute spinal cord injury, correlation of MR findings with the degree of neurological deficit and eventual recovery was undertaken.


RESULTS
Cord anomalies in the acute stage were seen in 16 patients. Intramedullary haemorrhage (n = 6) and cord transection (n = 2) were associated with complete injuries and poor prognosis, whereas patients with cord oedema (n = 7) had incomplete injuries and recovered significant neurological function. In the chronic stage, MR findings included persistent cord compression in 8 patients, syringomyelia or post-traumatic cyst in 12, myelomalacia in 6, cord atrophy in 9, and cord transection in 7 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In acute spinal trauma, MR proved useful in assessing spinal cord compression and instability. In addition, direct visualisation and characterisation of post-traumatic changes within the spinal cord may offer new possibilities in establishing the prognosis for neurological recovery. In the later stages, potentially remediable causes of persistent or progressive symptoms, such as chronic spinal cord compression or syringomyelia can be distinguished from other sequelae of spinal trauma, such as myelomalacia, cord transection or atrophy.
Buchberger
W
W
Universitätsklinik für Radiodiagnostik, Universität Innsbruck.
Springer
P
P
Birbamer
G
G
Judmaier
W
W
Kathrein
A
A
Daniaux
H
H
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology
Magnetresonanztomographie beim spinalen Trauma.