Imaging of Cervical Spine Trauma: Update of Techniques and Clinical Relevance

Abstract

Imaging of cervical spine trauma most commonly begins with computed tomography (CT) for initial osseous and basic soft tissue evaluation, followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for complementary evaluation of the neural structures (i.e., spinal cord, nerves) and soft tissues (i.e., ligaments). Although CT and conventional MRI sequences have been the mainstay of trauma imaging for decades, there have been significant advances in CT processing, imaging sequences and techniques made possible by hardware and software development, and artificial intelligence. These advancements may provide advantages in increasing sensitivity for detection of pathology as well as in decreasing imaging and interpretation time. Unquestionably, the most important role of imaging is to provide information to help direct patient care, including diagnosis, next steps in treatment plan, and prognosis. As such, there has been a growing body of research investigating the clinical relevance of imaging findings to clinical outcomes in the setting of spinal cord injury. This article will focus on these recent advances in imaging of cervical spinal trauma.