title: Cervical spinal cord injuries without radiographic evidence of trauma: a prospective study.
abstract: METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In a prospective study, 45 consecutive cases of cervical spinal cord injury without radiographic evidence of trauma (SCIWORET) who were treated non-operatively were analyzed to correlate the magnetic resonance image findings with the initial neurological deficit and the extent of neurological recovery at 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  University tertiary-care teaching hospital in South India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The neurological status of patients who did not have any radiographic or computerized tomographic abnormality at the time of admission was assessed by ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) modification of Frankel's grading. The spinal cord abnormality seen in the magnetic resonance imaging was noted. The neurological status at the end of 2 years was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven of the 45 patients (60%) had cord oedema, 8 (17.77%) had cord contusion, 8 (17.77%) patients had a normal cord and 2 (4.44%) patients had cord swelling on the magnetic resonance image. Out of 27 patients who presented with cord oedema, 14 (31.11%) patients recovered from AIS D to AIS E and 6 (13.33%) patients did not recover and remained at AIS D. Seven (15.55%) patients who had a normal cord recovered completely to AIS E. Five (11.11%) patients who had contusion of the cord recovered up to AIS D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initial neurological status correlates with magnetic resonance imaging findings. Subsequent neurological recovery is dependent on the type of cord damage and initial neurological status. The rate of recovery and the final motor outcome are inversely related to the length of cord involvement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mohanty
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhushan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult