Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Trunk Musculature and Intervertebral Discs in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury with Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fractures: A Prospective Study

• Published in: Asian spine journal 2020, 14(6), , pp.829-846
• Main Authors: Singh, Roop, Wadhwani, Jitendra, Punia, Gaurav, Rohilla, Rajesh Kumar, Kaur, Kiranpreet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical Study; intervertebral disc; magnetic resonance imaging; muscles; rehabilitation; spinal cord injuries; spinal fractures; 정형외과학
• ISSN: 1976-1902; 1976-7846
• DOI: 10.31616/asj.2019.0003

This study is a prospective clinical study. This study aims to evaluate the characteristics of trunk musculature and intervertebral discs by using magnetic resonance imaging in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) with thoracic and lumbar fractures. Muscle atrophy is an immediate consequence of SCI and is associated with secondary complications. At present, there are limited clinical data on muscle and disc responses to fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine. A total of 51 patients with a mean age of 31.75±10.42 years who suffered traumatic SCI were included in this study. Complete neurological examinations (American Spinal Injury Association grading) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed at the time of admission and at 3-6 months after injury to study the neurological status and disc and trunk parameters. The type of management (operative or conservative) was decided on the basis of clinical, radiological, and MRI evaluations, and a robust rehabilitation program was initiated. Disc parameters including disc angle, skin angle, cross-sectional area (CSA), and disc height and trunk parameters (mean trunk width, mean trunk depth, and CSA of the lumbar muscles) decreased significantly (p