Surface coil MR of spinal XXXX : preliminary experience.

@entity1 @entity4282 @entity174 @entity548 @entity130
Nineteen fractured vertebral bodies involving the spine from C1 to L2 in 14 @entity1 were imaged with a 0.6-T magnet using prototypical surface coils. Ten of these @entity1 were studied within the first week of @entity130 . CT and plain films are superior to MR in detecting @entity174 and identifying the origin of displaced fragments in cases of extensive comminution. However, all body @entity174 and most posterior element @entity174 in the thoracolumbar spine were visible on MR. @entity174 involving the cervical neural arch were difficult to detect on transverse section without CT correlation. Our results indicate that MR can probably replace CT in the thoracolumbar region. MR is superior to CT in demonstrating @entity130 and @entity130 to the disk. Unlike CT, MR shows the relation of the thecal sac and spinal cord to retropulsed fragments and @entity4282 . MR also visualizes cord parenchyma; two cases of @entity548 were not seen on CT. Even at this early stage of development, surface coil MR promises to become important in the evaluation of spinal @entity130 , not only in assessing the integrity of the spinal canal and cord, but in separating stable from unstable @entity174 on the basis of disruption of the posterior ligaments and elements. Additionally, the demonstration of rupture of specific ligaments may have an impact on surgical management.
