Biomechanical aspects of the subarachnoid space and cervical cord in healthy individuals examined with kinematic magnetic resonance imaging

Study Design. In vivo flexion-extension magnetic resonance imaging studies of the cervical spine were performed inside a positioning device. Objective. To determine the functional changes of the cervical cord and the subarachnoid space that occur during flexion and extension of the cervical spine in healthy individuals. of Background Data. As an addition to static magnetic resonance imaging examinations, kinematic magnetic resonance imaging studies of the cervical spine were performed to obtain detailed information about functional aspects of the cervical cord and the subarachnoid space. The results were compared with published data of functional flexion-extension myelograms of the cervical spine. Methods. The cervical spines of 40 healthy individuals were examined in a whole-body magnetic resonance scanner from 50° of flexion to 30° of extension, using a positioning device. At nine different angle positions, sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo sequences were obtained. The images were analyzed with respect to the segmental motion, the diameter of the subarachnoid space, and the diameter of the cervical cord. Results. The segmental motion between flexion and extension was 11° at C2-C3, 12° at C3-C4, 15° at C4-C5, 19° at C5-C6, and 20° at C6-C7. At flexion, a narrowing of the ventral subarachnoid space of up to 43% and a widening of the dorsal subarachnoid space of up to 89% (compared with the neutral position, 0°) were observed. At extension, an increase in the diameter of the ventral subarachnoid space of up to 9% was observed, whereas the dorsal subarachnoid space was reduced to 17%. At flexion, there was a reduction in the sagittal diameter of the cervical cord of up to 14%, and, at extension, there was an increase of up to 15%, compared with the neutral position (0°; these values varied depending on the cervical segment. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.051 were found between flexion and extension in the diameter of the ventral and dorsal su arachnoid space and in the diameter of the cervical cord. Conclusions. Compared with the results of revious studies using functional cervical myeiograms, kinematic magnetic resonance imaging provides additional noninvasive data concerning tne physiologic changes of the cervical subarachnoid space and the cervical cord during flexion and extension in healthy individuals.