Sequential MR studies of cervical cord injury: correlation with neurological damage and clinical outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which images provide the most useful information and the best time to perform prognostic MRI.


METHODS
The severity of neurological complications was assessed using the ASIA impairment scale. MRI was first performed within 48 h of injury, and was subsequently performed after 2-3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year.


METHODS
Inpatient SCI medicine unit.


METHODS
Seventy-five patients with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (9 women and 66 men) aged from 19-89 years (mean: 54.7 years).


RESULTS
Four characteristic patterns of signal changes were observed on MRI. These patterns correlated well with the severity of spinal cord damage and the clinical outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
T2-weighted images provided the most useful information, and the best times for prognostic imaging were at the time of injury and 2-3 weeks later.
Shimada
K
K
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama Rosai Hospital, Okayama City, Japan.
Tokioka
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010243:Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*