MR Manifestations of Vertebral Artery Injuries in Cervical Spine Trauma

Yu, Jeong Sik; Chung, Tae Sub; Kim, Young Soo; Cho, Yong Eun; Kang, Byung Chul; Kim, Dong Ik

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess the diagnostic efficacy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the detection of a vertebralartery injury occurring from major cervical spine trauma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Conventional MR findings of 63patients and 63 control subjects were compared to detect a possible change in the vertebral arteries resulted fromtrauma. Plain films, CT and clinical records were also reviewed to correlate the degree of cervical spine injurywith vascular change.
RESULTS
Nine cases of absent flow signals in vessel lumen were observed in eight patientsand one was observed in the control group. Patients more frequently demonstrated other abnormalities such asintraluminal linear signals (n=3) or focal luminal narrowing (n=9) but there was no statistical significance. There was a close relationship between degree of cord damage and occlusion of the vertebral artery.
CONCLUSION
Conventional MR imaging is useful in the detection of vertebral artery occlusion resulting from cervical spinetrauma.