Acute spinal cord injury: magnetic resonance imaging correlated with myelopathy

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Abstract
Thirty-one patients (29 males and two females, 13–87 years of age (mean, 46.7 years)) with acute spinal cord injury were studied by MR (magnetic resonance) imaging and the results were correlated with neurological findings. Magnetic resonance images were obtained with a 0.5 T superconductive MR scanner (Phillips Gyroscan S5). Initial imaging was performed within 24 hours after trauma in 13 patients, 1–7 days in 13 patients and 7–14 days in five patients. Twenty-six patients underwent follow-up examinations with MR imaging. Cord abnormalities including cord compression (23 patients), cord swelling (seven patients), and abnormal signal intensities on either T 1 or T 2 weighted images (26 patients) were observed on initial examination. Multivariate analysis showed that cord compression and abnormal intensities on T 1-weighted images were important prognostic indicators. Hyperintensity on T 2-weighted images was non-specific but correlated well with clinical recovery. Magnetic resonance imaging is useful in predicting the prognosis and for planning treatment following spinal cord injuries.

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