SPINAL-CORD DIAMETERS IN CADAVERIC SPECIMENS AND MAGNETIC-RESONANCE SCANS, TO ASSESS EMBALMING ARTIFACTS

It would be valuable to use cadaveric models of cervical vertebrae and spinal cord to assess how varying degrees of traumatic subluxation wo uld relate to neurological damage. However, before such a study may be undertaken, it would be important to assess the degree of shrinkage o r expansion of the spinal cord that occurs during the embalming proces s. This is achieved in this study by comparing diameters of cadaveric spinal cord to that of sagittal magnetic resonance scans of living sub jects. The geometric measurements of radiographs in living subjects ha s been assessed but no direct model for spinal cord injury has been de scribed [1]. If embalmed spinal cord diameters were a good estimator o f living spinal cord diameters then cadaveric cervical spines could be used as a model. By reproducing various degrees of fracture and dislo cation the extent of corresponding cord compression could be assessed. Our study shows that spinal cord dimensions increase after embalming using the Cambridge procedure [4].