Abstract
The relationship was studied between various radiological measurements (atlant-dental interval, the space available for the spinal cord, Ranawat's method, Redlund-Johnell's method) and cord compression on MRI images in 46 rheumatoid arthritis patients with upper cervical lesion.
According to the MRI images, cord compression existed in 29 patients (63%) . It was observed in 16 out of 17 cases that were evaluated by Redlund-Johnell's method as having severe vertical subluxation.
From this study it could be concluded that MRI measurements are available for the diagnosis of spinal cord compression which is usually diagnosed by the space available for the spinal cord, Ranawat's and Redlund-Johnell's methods. These methods are more valuable than measurement of the atlant-dental interval.
