Article

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether pre- and
post-operative changes of signal intensity (SI) and transverse area (TA) of the
spinal cord on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect the surgical
outcome in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) without radiologic evidence of
trauma (SCIWORET). SETTING: The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University,
Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. METHODS: In 36 consecutive prospective patients, MRI
was performed pre-operatively and 3 months post-operatively. The Japanese
Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scale and the American Spinal Cord Injury
Association (ASIA) motor score (AMS) were used to quantify neurologic status at
admission and at least 12-month follow-up. Pre- and post-operative TA, range of
signal intensity (RSI), grayscale of signal intensity (GSI) and prevertebral
hyperintensities (PVHs) were measured using the image analysis software.
Pre-operative status and post-operative recovery were assessed in relation to MRI
parameters pre- and post-operatively using univariate and multivariate analysis.
RESULTS: Pre-operative JOA and AMS score negatively correlates RSI, GSI and PVH.
There was no significant correlation between pre-operative TA and pre-operative
JOA and AMS. Recovery rate with JOA negatively correlates pre-operative RSI,
post-operative RSI, pre-operative GSI, post-operative GSI and PVH. There was a
significant negative correlation between recovery rate with AMS and pre-operative
RSI, post-operative GSI and PVH. From these results of multivariate stepwise
regression analysis, the predictors of surgical outcomes are pre-operative GSI
and pre-operative RSI. CONCLUSION: Quantitative MRI analysis may provide reliable
information for the prediction of the initial neurological status and surgical outcome of patients with SCIWORET.
- IRM

Langue : ANGLAIS