2023 Volume 14 Issue 4 Pages 722-726
Introduction: The relationship between the serial changes in the status of the injured spinal cord and the outcome of treatment in patients with spinal cord injury remains unknown.
Methods: Nineteen patients with spinal cord injury without radiographic evidence of trauma (SCIWORET) were included in this study. They were classified into two groups [5 patients (conservative group) and 14 patients (surgical group)]. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) immediately after the injury or within 1 month after the injury.
Results: The level of the injured spinal cord was C3-4 in 9 cases, C4-5 in 6 cases, C5-6 in 3 cases, and C6-7 in 1 case. The mean contraction rate of the spinal cord area and the recovery score of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score were 86.0% and 11.8 points in the conservative group and 85.4% and 10.6 points in the surgical group, respectively. There were no significant differences in the mean contraction rate of the spinal cord area and the recovery score of the ASIA motor score between the two groups.
Conclusions: The spinal cord edema in many patients recovered on delayed MRI compared to acute-phase MRI. Evaluation of the injured spinal cord on delayed MRI is one of the most important methods to confirm spinal cord compression reduction in patients with SCIWORET.
