MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM - THE SPINE - PART 8, SECTION 3

Magnetic resonance imaging in the patient who has had surgery is discu ssed, The most common indication for postoperative imaging is in the d istinction between postoperative fibrosis and recurrent disc herniatio n, Magnetic resonance imaging is invaluable in the assessment of poten tial causes of failed back surgery syndrome such as postoperative infe ction, arachnoiditis and adjacent segment degeneration, Magnetic reson ance imaging assumes a less important role in postoperative patients w ith metal hardware owing to image degradation secondary to metal artif act, Magnetic resonance imaging has a complementary role with computed tomography evaluation of spinal trauma, It excels at the noninvasive evaluation of spinal deformities and neoplasms.