Kernspintomographische Befunde beim Halswirbelsäulentrauma

Abstract

Twenty patients who had suffered spinal trauma were examined by magnetic resonance tomography. Fifteen patients with first degree trauma in Erdmann's classification showed no abnormality. Magnetic resonance tomography of the cervical spine appears to be a suitable method for investigating patients with whiplash injuries. It is indicated following severe flexion injuries with subluxations and neurological symptoms, since it is the only method that can demonstrate the spinal cord directly and completely and show the extent of cord compression. For patients with thoracic trauma and rapidly developing neurological symptoms, magnetic resonance tomography is ideal for showing post-traumatic syringomyelia. Magnetic resonance tomography following whiplash injuries is recommended if plain films of the cervical spine show any abnormalities, as well as for the investigation of acute or sub-acute neurological abnormalities. The various findings are discussed.

MR Imaging and Radiography of Patients with Cervical Hyperextension—Flexion Injuries after Car Accidents

“…The projection used was sagittal only and transversal slices might be useful as a supplement for describing possible soft tissue changes. Four other MR studies after hyperextension-flexion injuries have been published, and none could identify any abnormal MR findings either; 2 studies of the neck (2,9) and 2 studies of the brain (4,17). However, there were several other findings on MR investigations in our study; among them disc pathology, ligament strain, spinal canal narrowing, spondylosis, and abnormal cervical posture, but such findings are also common in asymptomatic persons (1,15,16).…”

Neurobehavioral findings in whiplash patients with long-lasting symptoms

“…Such movements may result in damage to several structures, such as ligaments, intervertebral discs, and roots of the cervical nerves, as recently documented by nuclear magnetic resonance studies by von Meydam (5).…”

Stellenwert bildgebender Verfahren in der Diagnostik der Ligg. alaria nach Beschleunigungsverletzung der Halswirbelsäule

“…Weitere Studien von Petterson und Von Meydam mit Fallzahlen zwischen 15 und 58 Patienten bestätigten diese Untersuchung, wobei auch hier nur in Einzelfällen Weichteilverletzungen wie z. B. eine isolierte Halsmuskelruptur erkannt wurden [18,21]. Die Autoren schlussfolgerten, dass nach einem HWS-Distorsionstrauma auf eine MRT-Untersuchung nach Ausschluss einer Fraktur oder Dislokation verzichtet werden kann.…”

“…So sollte der Einsatz der MRT auf die wenigen Patienten beschränkt werden, bei denen neurologische Defizite vorliegen. In diesen Fällen ist mit häufigeren morphologischen Auffälligkeiten der Halswirbelkörper, der Bandscheiben und des Zervikalmarks zu rechnen [11,18,21]. Ligg.…”