Cervical cord compression caused by a pillow in a postlaminectomy patient undergoing magnetic resonance imaging

1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumio Suzuki ◽  
Masayuki Nakajima ◽  
Masayuki Matsuda

✓ A 66-year-old man, who had undergone osteoplastic laminectomy for posttraumatic cervical myelopathy, underwent a second operation in which the replaced laminae were removed because of postoperative deep wound infection. Follow-up dynamic magnetic resonance imaging with flexion and extension views of the neck 1 year postsurgery demonstrated that the cervical cord was markedly compressed from behind in the extended position, although a wide subarachnoid space was observed in this region when the neck was in the flexed position. The cause of cord compression was the pillow that was placed underneath the patient's neck for maintaining the extended position, not the neck extension itself. This finding indicates that care must be taken during neuroradiological examination not to place a pillow under the neck of a patient who has undergone laminectomy. Nuchal compression could lead to cervical cord injury after laminectomy. Laminoplasty benefits the patient by protecting the cervical cord from secondary injury.

1991 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-164
Author(s):  
Eiji Mori ◽  
Keiichiro Shiba ◽  
Masaaki Ktsuki ◽  
Takayoshi Ueta ◽  
Kenzou Shirasawa ◽  
...  

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 974-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koreaki Mori ◽  
Yoshihiko Kamimura ◽  
Yasufumi Uchida ◽  
Masahiro Kurisaka ◽  
Sueo Eguchi

✓ A large intramedullary lipoma of the cervical cord extending into the posterior fossa is reported in a 7-year-old boy. Magnetic resonance imaging was very useful for delineation of the anatomy of the lipoma as an aid in planning the operation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Bin Ju ◽  
Dong-Ming Guo ◽  
Fan-Fan Chen

Abstract This study aims to report a relatively rare entity—intramedullary tuberculum of cervical spine—and describe its management and some key learning points. Intramedullary tuberculomas are rare entities. Intramedullary tuberculoma is most commonly found in the thoracic cord of a patient and is rarely seen in the cervical cord. We present an intramedullary cervical tuberculoma in a 21-year-old patient with finding of spinal cord compression. All 4 limbs were spastic, with grade 1 power on the right side and grade 3 power on the left side. Sensory deficit was found below the C6 level. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an intramedullary lesion at the C5 to C6 levels. Intramedullary tuberculoma was diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, physical examination, previous history, and magnetic resonance imaging. A C5 to C7 laminectomy was performed. Intramedullary tuberculoma was resected by microsurgery. One year after the surgery, strength returned to normal grade 5. Excellent clinical outcome was obtained with a combination of both medical and surgical treatments. Intramedullary cervical tuberculoma should be removed without delay to eliminate any mass effect on the neurons as soon as possible.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Tempel ◽  
Jeffrey W. Bost ◽  
John A. Norwig ◽  
Joseph C. Maroon

Abstract BACKGROUND: Cervical cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 hyperintensity is used as evidence of cord trauma in the evaluation and management of athletes in contact sports. The long-term pathophysiologic and prognostic value of this finding is poorly understood, especially in return to play (RTP). OBJECTIVE: To examine the significance of T2 hyperintensity in the cervical spinal cord of professional athletes. METHODS: Retrospective review of MRI T2 hyperintensity findings between 2007 and 2014 in 5 professional athletes. Pertinent examination and demographics, including mechanism of injury, surgical intervention, radiographs, MRI studies, long-term outcomes, and RTP recommendations were collected. RESULTS: Four National Football League players and 1 professional wrestler had prior traumatic neurapraxia that at the time of initial consultation had resolved. MRIs showed congenitally small cervical canal (1) and multilevel spondylosis/stenosis/disc herniation (4) along with focal cord T2 hyperintensity (5). The signal abnormalities were at C3/C4 (3), C4 mid-vertebral body (1), and C5/C6 (1). Four athletes had single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and 1 was nonoperative. Serial MRI imaging at 3 months after surgery showed hyperintensity partially resolved (4) and unchanged (1), and at 9-months 3 of the 5 completely resolved. Based on the author's RTP criteria, 4 of 5 were released to return to their sport. Clearance for RTP preceded complete resolution of MRI T2 hyperintensity in 3 of 4 athletes. The 2 athletes that have returned to profession sport have not had any additional episodes of neurapraxia or any cervical spine-related complications. CONCLUSION: MRI T2 hyperintensity in contact sport athletes who are symptom-free with normal examination and no evidence of spinal instability may not be a contraindication to RTP. Additional observations are needed to confirm this observation.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 887-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izumi Koyanagi ◽  
Yoshinobu Iwasaki ◽  
Kazutoshi Hida ◽  
Hiroyuki Imamura ◽  
Shin Fujimoto ◽  
...  

Abstract OBJECTIVE Patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) sometimes present with acute spinal cord injury caused by only minor trauma. In the present study, we reviewed our experience of acute cervical cord injury associated with OPLL to understand the pathomechanisms and to provide clinical information for management of this disorder. METHODS Twenty-eight patients were retrospectively analyzed. There were 26 men and 2 women, aged 45 to 78 years (mean, 63.0 yr). Most patients experienced incomplete spinal cord injury (Frankel Grade A, 3; B, 1; C, 15; and D, 9). RESULTS Radiological studies revealed continuous- or mixed-type OPLL in 14 patients and segmental-type OPLL in 14 patients. The sagittal diameter of the spinal canal was reduced to 4.1 to 10 mm at the narrowest level as a result of OPLL. Developmental size of the spinal canal was significantly smaller in the group with segmental OPLL. Magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed that spinal cord injury occurred predominantly at the caudal edge of continuous-type OPLL or at the disc levels. Surgery was performed in 24 patients either by posterior (18 patients) or anterior (6 patients) decompression at various time intervals after the trauma. Twenty patients (71%) displayed improvement in Frankel grade. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrates the preexisting factors and pathomechanisms of acute spinal cord injury associated with cervical OPLL. Magnetic resonance imaging is useful to understand the level and mechanism of injury. Further investigation will be needed to elucidate the role of surgical decompression.


Author(s):  
Ajit Ahuja ◽  
Nitin Wadnere ◽  
Simran Behl

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice for evaluation of ligamentous and other spinal cord, soft tissue structures, disc, and occult osseous injuries. Objective evaluate the role of MRI as a non-invasive diagnostic tool in patient with spinal trauma.Methods: This study was conducted in department of radiodiagnosis, Sri Aurobindo institute of medical sciences and PG institute, Indore and approval from the ethical and research committee. The duration of this study was April 2018 to May 2020. We included 60 patients of spinal trauma referred for MRI in this study.Results: In 32 (53.3%) patients the mode of injury was road traffic accidents, in 23 (38.3%) patients it was fall and in 5 (8.3%) patients the mode of injury was any other mode. There was significant difference seen between the MR cord hemorrhage, cord compression, and code transaction.Conclusions: MRI is an excellent modality for imaging of acute spinal trauma. Normal cord on baseline MRI predicts excellent outcome. When comparing patients with complete, incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) and spine trauma without SCI, significant difference was seen in cord hemorrhage, cord transection, cord compression.


Neurosurgery ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (CN_suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 280-280
Author(s):  
Darryl Lau ◽  
Cynthia Chin ◽  
Philip R Weinstein ◽  
John Engstrom ◽  
Christopher P Ames

Abstract INTRODUCTION Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) may be more sensitive in detecting early cervical cord injury than abnormal T2-signal. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow studies may demonstrate degree of stenosis based on cervical cord motion. This study evaluates tests correlation of DWI and cord motion to myelopathy severity and degree of stenosis. METHODS Prospectively, adult patients with concern for cervical stenosis underwent cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (T2, Cine CSF Flow, and DWI). Images were reviewed neuroradiologists blinded to the patient's clinical condition. Correlation of MRI findings to neurological status and outcomes following surgery were evaluated. RESULTS >Twenty patients were enrolled. Mean age was 66 years, and 40% were male. Eleven presented with myelopathy and 9 had pain, weakness, and/or sensory changes. All patients had radiographic cervical stenosis (14 severe, 5 moderate, and 1 mild). In the presence of cervical stenosis, paradoxical cord motion (moving opposite to the rest of cord) was observed in 79% of severe and 50% of mild/moderate stenosis. The sensitivities of MRI findings to detect clinical myelopathy were 63% for T2 signal, 73% for abnormal DWI, 73% for abnormal cord motion, 91% for abnormal DWI/cord motion, and 100% for abnormal T2/DWI/cord motion. Fourteen patients underwent surgical decompression (4 anterior and 10 posterior). Ten of those 14 patients had improved Nurick myelopathy score. Of the 4 patients who did not improve, their MRI profile revealed that all preoperative MRI had abnormal cord motion (2 with normal T2-signal and DWI) (P = 0.126). Among the 6 patients (1 moderate and 5 severe stenosis) who did not undergo surgery, 1 worsened (abnormal T2-signal/DWI/cord motion) while 5 others had no change in neurological status. CONCLUSION DWI and CSF flow studies are sensitive modalities in detecting myelopathy and evaluating cervical stenosis severity. Abnormal DWI and cord motion are present in myelopathic patients without T2-signal abnormality and maybe useful prognostic indicators.


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