Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging analysis correlates with surgical outcome of cervical spinal cord injury without radiologic evidence of trauma.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective study.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether pre- and post-operative changes of signal intensity (SI) and transverse area (TA) of the spinal cord on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect the surgical outcome in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) without radiologic evidence of trauma (SCIWORET).

SETTING

The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China.

METHODS

In 36 consecutive prospective patients, MRI was performed pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively. The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale and the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) motor score (AMS) were used to quantify neurologic status at admission and at least 12-month follow-up. Pre- and post-operative TA, range of signal intensity (RSI), grayscale of signal intensity (GSI) and prevertebral hyperintensities (PVHs) were measured using the image analysis software. Pre-operative status and post-operative recovery were assessed in relation to MRI parameters pre- and post-operatively using univariate and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Pre-operative JOA and AMS score negatively correlates RSI, GSI and PVH. There was no significant correlation between pre-operative TA and pre-operative JOA and AMS. Recovery rate with JOA negatively correlates pre-operative RSI, post-operative RSI, pre-operative GSI, post-operative GSI and PVH. There was a significant negative correlation between recovery rate with AMS and pre-operative RSI, post-operative GSI and PVH. From these results of multivariate stepwise regression analysis, the predictors of surgical outcomes are pre-operative GSI and pre-operative RSI.

CONCLUSION

Quantitative MRI analysis may provide reliable information for the prediction of the initial neurological status and surgical outcome of patients with SCIWORET.