A CLINICAL MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING STUDY OF THE TRAUMATISED SPINAL-CORD MORE THAN 20 YEARS FOLLOWING INJURY

One hundred and fifty three patients who had sustained a spinal cord i njury more than 20 years previously were assessed neurologically and b y MRI scanning of their spinal cords. The spinal cord pathologies show n were, in order of prevalence, extended atrophy, malacia, syrinx, cys t, disruption and tethering. There was no relationship between the pre valence of any type of pathology and the degree of spinal canal compro mise or angulation of the spine adjacent to the level of injury, Neuro logical changes after initial neurological stabilisation were seen onl y in patients with extended atrophy, malacia or a syrinx, not in those with only a cyst or cord disruption. Tethering is always associated w ith other lesion(s). Longer syrinxes were more likely to have associat ed neurological changes than shorter ones. The most common neurologica l change was pain.