AbstractBackground: For Imaging neurological parts, like the spinal cord, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the gold standard. The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the acute management of patients with spinal cord injuries has risen dramatically.
Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic role of magnetic resonance imaging in management of acute spinal trauma and to assess the extent of neurological deficit.
Material and Methods: Thirty patients of spinal trauma. The patients undergoing MR imaging, magnetic resonance images were analysed and skeletal injuries, signal changes in vertebrae, ligaments, soft tissues were noted. Associated spinal cord injury findings were also noted, which helped in assessing the initial neurological deficit and compared with (ASIA) impairment scale.
Results: Out of 30 patients of spinal trauma. 53.3 % injuries were in cervical region and 46.6% in thoracolumbar region. Most of the traumatic spinal injuries in cervical spine were unstable. (68.75%) and thoracolumbar spine were stable injuries (42.85%). Unstable spinal injuries (56.66%) in cervical and thoracolumbar were operated and stabilised. Cord oedema (36.6%) and next cord compression (33.3%) were common presentations of cord injuries; cord transection and compression have worse neurological deficit and presented with ASIA score A/B at the time of admission.
Conclusion: CT provides superior depiction of bony anatomy but important limitation of this technique is inability to provide screening for ligamentous injury and spinal cord lesions. MRI is superior in this regard. Because of its high contrast resolution, absence of bony artifacts, multiplanar ability, and variety of pulse sequences, MRI allows for a more precise diagnosis of spinal trauma.
