title: Flexion and extension cervical MRI in a pediatric population.
abstract: Cervical spine flexion/extension magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used in 17 pediatric patients (age, 9 months to 12 years) for assessment of spinal cord compression secondary to instability. Nine of these patients had cord compression demonstrated on flexion/ extension MRI (flexion and extension, five; flexion, three; extension, one). These nine patients all had neurologic manifestations and underwent surgery. Patients without spinal cord compression on MRI did not demonstrate any neurologic manifestations. Flexion/extension MRI of the cervical spine was very useful in selecting appropriate patients for arthrodesis and determining the necessity for concurrent anterior or posterior decompression.
authors.affiliation: Children's Rehabilitative Services, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Haynes
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013123:Spinal Fusion