title: Role of magnetic resonance imaging in acute spinal trauma: a pictorial review.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been playing an increasingly important role in the spinal trauma patients due to high sensitivity for detection of acute soft tissue and cord injuries. More and more patients are undergoing MRI for spinal trauma in the emergency settings, thus necessitating the interpreting physicians to be familiar with MRI findings in spinal trauma. In this pictorial review, we will first describe the normal anatomy of various ligamentous structures. Indications of MRI in spinal trauma as well as the role of MRI in diagnosing spinal cord and soft tissue injuries will then be discussed. Illustrated cases are mainly of cervical spine trauma, but thoracolumbar spine injuries are also included where appropriate in our review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06610, USA.
authors.forename: Yogesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Bridgeport Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System, 267 Grant Street, Bridgeport, CT, 06610, USA. dhayashi@bu.edu.|Department of Radiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 820 Harrison Avenue, FGH Building, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. dhayashi@bu.edu.
authors.forename: Daichi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D046748:Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019838:Neck Injuries; D058866:Osteoporotic Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000556:secondary; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Hemorrhage; Ligamentous injury; MRI; Spinal cord; Spinal trauma