The pathophysiology of cervical spinal cord injury: what are the differences between traumatic injury and degenerative disorder.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective comparative clinical study.

OBJECTIVE

To establish eligible diagnostic criteria for traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (TCSCI) without major fracture or dislocation and create a definitive clinical protocol by comparing the pathophysiology of CSCI in both traumatic and degenerative disorders.

SETTING

Fukuoka, Japan.

METHODS

A total of 21 TCSCI patients and 16 rapid progressive clinical deterioration of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (rp-CSM: additional cervical spinal cord injury with an existing cervical myelopathy) patients with impairment graded as C or D on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale were included in the study. Magnetic resonance (MR) images and ASIA motor scores were evaluated for all of the patients at the time of admission and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The T2-weighted MR images for all patients showed an abnormally high intramedullary signal in the area of the injured segment at the first examination. At 12 months post-surgery, 47.62% of patients with TCSCI and none with rp-CSM had an abnormally low intramedullary signal change on T1-weighted MR images. The neurological improvement with rp-CSM was significantly greater than that with TCSCI at 12 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the pathophysiology of CSCI between traumatic injury and degenerative disorder are similar, but not identical. The most important factor in the early pathophysiological differential diagnosis between these two pathologies is the presence of an existing cervical myelopathy. We believe that early prognosis with eligible diagnosis for CSCI may lead to early preparations for social rehabilitation in each case.