[Study the degree of cervical spinal canal stenosis by MRI in flexion and extension of the cervical vertebrae].
OBJECTIVE
To study the degree and changes of cervical spinal canal stenosis by MRI scans in flexion and extension of the cervical vertebrae.


METHODS
Thirty cases of cervical stenosis included 13 male and 17 female with an average age of 39 years ranging from 28 to 66 years. The sagittal diameter of cervical spinal canal were below 10 mm (absolute stenosis) in 12 cases,within 10 to 12 mm (correspondence stenosis) in 18 cases. MRI scans in neutrality, flexion, extension performanced and the degree of cervical spinal canal stenosis and the changes of spinal cord compression were evaluated after MRI scans obtained.


RESULTS
Nineteen patients of extension occurrenced stenosis more serious, 8 patients of flexion occurrenced (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
For the cervical stenosis imaging diagnostic, flexion and extension of cervical MRI scan can be used to supplement conventional MRI examination neutral position, and the extension of MRI is more sensitivity than neutral position and flexion bit.
Zhong
Yuan-ming
YM
Surgical Department of Spinal, the 1st Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi TCM College, Nanning 530023, Guangxi, China.
Shi
Ming
M
Li
Zhi-fei
ZF
Xu
Jian-wen
JW
Zha
Jia-li
JL
Yang
Guang
G
Wei
Jia-ding
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology