[The diagnosis of spinal trauma: the indication for CT and myelo-CT on the day of the injury].

During a period of 24 months, 211 patients were investigated in our radiological clinic by emergency CT of the spine on the day of the injury. In 128 (61%) a traumatic lesion could be demonstrated. Most frequently involved were the transitional zones of the spine (occipito-atlanto-axial segment, cervico-thoracic and thoracolumbar segments). In 68% of these patients, conventional radiographs of the spine of these critical zones proved to be inadequate. 20% of the lesions demonstrated by CT could not be seen on conventional radiographs and 41% were shown incompletely. In 61% of cases CT provided additional information when compared with conventional radiography.