Evaluation of an acute nerve compression injury with magnetic resonance neurography

Although magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is performed routinely, current te chniques offer little for evaluation of the peripheral nervous system. An a nimal model was developed to evaluate the appearance and geographic changes associated with an acute nerve compression injury by MR neurography. Sever al measurements of signal intensity were made for the contralateral noninju red nerve and each sciatic nerve proximal to the site of compression (PN), at the site of compression (CN), and distal to the site of compression (DN) injury. Mean (+/- SEM) values of the MR nerve/muscle signal intensity rati o were 2.24 +/- 0.08 for normal nerve, 2.29 +/- 0.12 for PN, 3.11 +/- 0.31 for CN, and 4.33 +/- 0.47 for DN. There was a statistically significant geo graphic variation of nerve/muscle signal intensity ratios along the course of the nerve relative to the site of injury that MR neurography could detec t. Magnetic resonance neurography may have significant potential to provide more information about problems such as brachial plexus injuries and perip heral nerve compression. Copyright (C) 2001 by the American Society for Sur gery of the Hand.