Early MRI finding in adult spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormalities does not correlate with the neurological outcome: a retrospective study

A geriatric patient with spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality: outcomes and causes

“…Although the diagnosis of SCIWORA using MRI is controversial, positive MRI findings are present in most patients. Among patients with MRI, in the study of Liu et al, 45% had degenerative and spondylotic changes, 12 had cord contusion, 7 had cord edema, 2 had cord hemorrhage, and 4 had ligamentum flavum hypertrophy [10]. Gupta et al evaluated 15 SCIWORA patients with MRI and found that intervertebral disc prolapse was present in 6 of the patients, intramedullary hematoma/contusion in 4, cord edema in 4, and multiple disc prolapses and intramedullary hematoma was present in 1 of the patients [9].…”

“…Although the patients with severe neurological impairment have poor prognosis, moderate and mild cases may have better outcomes. Liu et al reported 61% of patients had complete recovery, 39% had partial improvement at the time of discharge, and two patients continued to have neurological deficit 6 months after the discharge [10]. Additionally, no relation between MRI findings and prognosis was noted.…”

“…It constitutes 13.7-38% of SCI in the pediatric age group and in <10% of adult SCI [8]. Preexisting spinal stenosis and intervertebral disc disease increase the risk of more significant damage after simpler injuries in adults [1,2,9,10].…”

“…In studies concerning etiology, Liu et al investigated 59 (2%) of 2964 adult SCI patients [10]. Traffic accidents, sports injuries, and falls were reported as etiologic agents.…”

“…Many studies state the relationship between prognosis and the extensity of the cord damage [1,4,7,9,10,12]. Although the patients with severe neurological impairment have poor prognosis, moderate and mild cases may have better outcomes.…”