[Spinal contusion after trauma to the cervical spine--relevance of the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal].

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between spinal stenosis and cervical myelopathy. Furthermore it was to investigate whether there is a correlation between spinal stenosis and progression of neurologic symptoms?

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Using the Pavlov ratio method, we compared 14 patients with a contusio spinalis with 14 patients who suffered from a distortion of the cervical spine. This ratio is calculated by the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal with the anteroposterior width of the vertebral body.

RESULTS

In eight patients with a contusio spinalis, there was a spinal stenosis, while there was none in the distortion group. The remaining patients with a contusio had severe degenerative changes in routine roentgenograms of the cervical spine. The Pavlov ratio was statistically significant reduced in the contusio group. After 8.5 days there was a complete regression of neurologic symptoms, whereas in 4 patients there was no full recovery.

CONCLUSION

To conclude we demonstrated that a spinal stenosis promotes a contusio spinalis but there is no evidence that the Pavlov ratio allows statements concerning the progression of the injury.