MR imaging of experimentally induced spinal injury

Thirty cadaver spine specimens were subjected to mechanical stresses and subsequently imaged with plain radiography, computed tomography (Ct), and 1.5-T magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in a study designed to detect patterns of injury and to determine the efficacy of each imaging modality in demonstrating spinal injury. Complete tears, buckling, stripping, and more subtle disruptions of the ligamentum flavum, capsular, anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments were observed on MR images. Over 90% of the ligamentous injuries were accurately depicted with MR imaging, which was clearly superior to CT in detecting soft-tissue and ligamentous injuries. Studies in patients suggest that MR demonstration of these injuries in vivo is also feasible