Spinal Cord Injury without Radiographic Abnormality in Adults.
10.4184/jkss.2007.14.1.44
- Author:
Heui Jeon PARK
1
;
Phil Eun LEE
;
Dong Kyu LEE
;
Hyeun Kook PARK
;
Myung Soon KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Orhtopaedic Surgery, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea. par73@yonsei.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Cervical spine;
Adult;
Spinal cord injury;
MRI
- MeSH:
Adult*;
Asia;
Contusions;
Dislocations;
Edema;
Follow-Up Studies;
Gliosis;
Hospital Records;
Humans;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
Prognosis;
Retrospective Studies;
Spinal Canal;
Spinal Cord Injuries*;
Spinal Cord*;
Spine
- From:Journal of Korean Society of Spine Surgery
2007;14(1):44-51
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study. OBJECTIVES: This study examined the MRI findings, injury mechanism, clinical findings, and prognosis of a spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) in adults with a normal spinal canal. SUMMARY OF LITERTURE: Most reports on SCIWORA deal with the pediatric age group. However, there are few reports on the MRI findings, clinical features and outcomes in adult patients with cervical SCIWORA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hospital records of 753 patients, who were treated for cervical spine injury between February 1, 1994 and July 31, 2004, were reviewed. This study included the 10 subjects with no fractures or dislocation on the plain roentgenograms or cord compression caused by degenerative change or disc herniation on MRI corresponding to the location of the cord lesion. All the patients had at least a 2-year follow-up evaluation. The relationships between the MRI findings, neurological findings and outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: The MRI findings revealed 7 cases with cord contusion, 3 cases with cord edema, 3 cases with gliosis and 3 cases with syrinx formation at the follow-up. The injury mechanism was hyperextension and hyperflexion in 7 and 3 cases, respectively. The initial motor function scores of ASIA in the edema and contusion groups was 60.7 and 43.9, respectively. At the last follow-up, the motor function scores of ASIA in the edema and contusion groups were 90 and 70.3, respectively. The Frankel grade improved by 1.3 and 1.1 in the edema and contusion groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SCIWORA, the MRI findings correlated well with the clinical picture and were of prognostic significance. The cord edema group showed better clinical features than the contusion group, and prognosis was relatively good in both groups. A further careful evaluation, such as MRI, is still needed to determine the appropriate treatment for spinal cord injuries without radiographic abnormalities.
