scholarly journals Magnetic resonance findings and outcome in ten cats with traumatic spondylomyelopathy

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-204
Author(s):  
R. Tapia-Nieto ◽  
G. B. Cherubini ◽  
S. Jakovljevic ◽  
A. Caine

In this retrospective study, the MR findings of ten cats with acute post-traumatic spondylomyelopathy were described and the most useful MR sequences were determined. Spinal cord injury (SCI), bone and muscle trauma were compared with the clinical outcome (recovery or euthanasia). The extension of spinal cord injury (SCI) was measured in vertebral body length (VBL). Of the ten cats, only five fully recovered. In the recovery group, no SCI (n=1) or SCI <1 VBL (n=4) were found. In the group of euthanized dogs, SCI > 2 VBLs (n=4) or spinal cord transection (n=1) were found. Lesions were best seen on T2WSE (spinal cord injury), STIR (soft tissue trauma) and T1WSE (bone injury). Low-field MR was therefore helpful to assess feline spinal trauma and may prove helpful to predict the clinical outcome, although a larger case series is needed. The authors suggest that protocols with low-field MR should include T1WSE, T2WSE and STIR sequences.

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Mochamad Targib Alatas

Early surgical treatment for traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) patients has been proven to yield better improvement on neurological state, and widely practiced among surgeons in this field. However, it is not always affordable in every clinical setting. It is undeniable that surgery for chronic SCI has more challenges as the malunion of vertebral bones might have initiated, thus requires more complex operating techniques. In this case series, we report 7 patients with traumatic SCI whose surgical intervention is delayed due to several reasons. Initial motoric scores vary from 0 to 3, all have their interval periods supervised between outpatient clinic visits. On follow up they demonstrate significant neurological development defined by at least 2 grades motoric score improvement. Physical rehabilitation also began before surgery was conducted. These results should encourage surgeons to keep striving for the patient’s best interest, even when the injury has taken place weeks or even months before surgery is feasible because clinical improvement for these patients is not impossible. 


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Masaaki Machino ◽  
Kei Ando ◽  
Kazuyoshi Kobayashi ◽  
Hiroaki Nakashima ◽  
Shunsuke Kanbara ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEAlthough increased signal intensity (ISI) on MRI is observed in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) without major bone injury, alterations in ISI have not been evaluated. The association between postoperative ISI and surgical outcomes remains unclear. This study elucidated whether or not the postoperative classification and alterations in MRI-based ISI of the spinal cord reflected the postoperative symptom severity and surgical outcomes in patients with SCI without major bone injury.METHODSOne hundred consecutive patients with SCI without major bone injury (79 male and 21 female) with a mean age of 55 years (range 20–87 years) were included. All patients were treated with laminoplasty and underwent MRI pre- and postoperatively (mean 12.5 ± 0.8 months). ISI was classified into three groups on the basis of sagittal T2-weighted MRI: grade 0, none; grade 1, light (obscure); and grade 2, intense (bright). The neurological statuses were evaluated according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scoring system and the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS).RESULTSPreoperatively, 8 patients had grade 0 ISI, 49 had grade 1, and 43 had grade 2; and postoperatively, 20 patients had grade 0, 24 had grade 1, and 56 had grade 2. The postoperative JOA scores and recovery rate (RR) decreased significantly with increasing postoperative ISI grade. The postoperative ISI grade tended to increase with the postoperative AIS grade. Postoperative grade 2 ISI was observed in severely paralyzed patients. The postoperative ISI grade improved in 23 patients (23%), worsened in 25 (25%), and remained unchanged in 52 (52%). Patients with an improved ISI grade had a better RR than those with a worsened ISI grade.CONCLUSIONSPostoperative ISI reflected postoperative symptom severity and surgical outcomes. Alterations in ISI were seen postoperatively in 48 patients (48%) and were associated with surgical outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaaki Machino ◽  
Shiro Imagama ◽  
Keigo Ito ◽  
Kei Ando ◽  
Kazuyoshi Kobayashi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Marie-Helene Beausejour ◽  
Eric Wagnac ◽  
Pierre-Jean Arnoux ◽  
Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong ◽  
Yvan Petit

Abstract Flexion-distraction injuries frequently cause traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Post-traumatic instability can cause aggravation of the secondary SCI during patient's care. However, there is little information on how the pattern of disco-ligamentous injury affects the SCI severity and mechanism. This study objective was to analyze how different flexion-distraction disco-ligamentous injuries affect the SCI mechanisms during post-traumatic flexion and extension. A cervical spine finite element model including the spinal cord was used and different combinations of partial or complete intervertebral disc (IVD) rupture and disruption of various posterior ligaments were modeled at C4-C5, C5-C6 or C6-C7. In flexion, complete IVD rupture combined with posterior ligamentous complex rupture was the most severe injury leading to the most extreme von Mises stress (47 to 66 kPa), principal strains p1 (0.32 to 0.41 in white matter) and p3 (-0.78 to -0.96 in white matter) in the spinal cord and to the most important spinal cord compression (35 to 48 %). The main post-trauma SCI mechanism was identified as compression of the anterior white matter at the injured level combined with distraction of the posterior spinal cord during flexion. There was also a concentration of the maximum stresses in the gray matter after injury. Finally, in extension, the injuries tested had little impact on the spinal cord. The capsular ligament was the most important structure in protecting the spinal cord. Its status should be carefully examined during patient's management.


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