MR FINDINGS AND TREATMENT OF 4 PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL SPINAL-CORD INJURIES

We report the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessm ent of cervical spine injuries with neurological deficit and the impli cations such information might have in the management of acute spinal cord injuries. Four cases are presented that were neurologically class ified according to the 5-step Frankel scale. Three patients presented with an intramedullary hemorrhage. One of these patients showed additi onal mild compression of the spinal cord due to a retropulsed bony fra gment, and one an epidural hematoma without any evidence of spinal cor d compression. The fourth patient had compression of the spinal cord s econdary to bony fragments from a burst fracture. We carried out two d ecompressions of the spinal cord by removing the disc and bony fragmen ts. In addition, we performed two interbody fusions. In one patient we applied a halo vest, and in one case surgical intervention was not ne cessary after MRI assessment.