MRI in spinal trauma: early and follow-up examinations

The aim of this study was to study the cervical spine using MRI in acute trauma and in the long-term follow-up. Sixty patients were examined with a 0.38T resistive unit, using spin-echo T1- and T2-weighted sequences in the sagittal and axial planes. The first examination was done within 10 days of injury. The follow-up study was performed within 10–12 weeks. The major findings included dislocation, compression of the thecal sac, vertebral fractures, spinal cord contusion and oedema. In follow-up studies spinal canal stenoses and intramedullary syrines were found. MRI proved to be a very good modality for initial diagnosis and long-term management of cervical spine trauma.