Facet Joint Injuries in Acute Cervical Spine Trauma: Evaluation with CT and MRI

PURPOSE: To evaluate injury patterns of facet joints and associated soft tissue injuries in patients withacute traumatic cervical facet joint injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From among patients with cervical spinetrauma, 27 with facet joint injuries, as seen on CT and MRI, were chosen for this study. CT scans were analyzedwith regard to the location of facet joint injury, the presence or absence of facet dislocation or fracture, andother associated fractures. MR images were analyzed with regard to ligament injury, intervertebral disc injury,intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal cord injury. RESULTS: The most common location of facet joint injurywas C6-7 level(n=10), followed by C5-6(n=8). Among these 27 patients with facet joint injuries, 12(44%) hadbilateral injuries and 15(56%) unilateral injuries. Facet fractures were present in 17 cases(63%) and the fractureof inferior facet was more frequent than superi-or. Patterns of fracture were vertical, transverse, or comminuted,but vertical fracture was the most common. Various degrees of dislocation were observed in patients with facetfractures. Fractures other than facet includ-ed pillar(n=11), lamina(n=6), transverse process(n=14), body(n=13),and spinous process(n=3). On MR im-ages, anterior longitudinal ligament injury was found in 8 patients(30%),posterior longitudinal ligament injury in 4(15%), and interspinous ligament injury in 20(74%). Twelvepatients(44%) had spinal cord injuries includ-ing edema(n=8) and hemorrhage(n=4). Among patients with discabnormalities, 11(41%) had intervertebral disc injuries, and traumatic disc herniations were found in nine. CONCLUSION: Traumatic cervical facet joint injuries were manifested as various patterns and frequentlyassoci-ated with other fractures or soft tissue injuries. Analysis of CT and MR findings of these injury patternshelped formulate a therapeutic plan and determine of prognosis.

MR Imaging of Tibial Plateau Fractures: Evaluation of Fracture Types and Associated Soft Tissue Injuries

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing fracture types and soft tissue injuries associated with tibial plateau fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRI was performed in 38 patients with tibial plateau fractures, each of which was classified according to the Schatzker system. We evaluated MR images and assessed the prevalence of each fracture type and accompanying soft tissue injuries. We also assessed whether ligamentous injury correlated with the extent of articular depression, splitting, and comminution. In 24 patients, diagnosis was based on MRI and operative or arthroscopic findings, and in 14 patients, on MRI alone. RESULTS: The totals of fracture types I, II, III, IV, V and VI were 4 (11 %), 15 (39 %), 6 (16 %), 4 (11 %), 4 (11%), and 5 cases (13 %), respectively. In 30 cases (79 %), there were associated ligamentous or meniscal injuries. Medial collateral ligaments and lateral menisci were injured in 17 (45 %) and 14 cases (37 %), respectively. Type II and IV fracture patterns were associated with soft tissue injuries in 14 of 15 cases (93 %) and 4 of 4 cases(100 %), respectively. As the extent of articular depression increased and the extent of bony comminution decreased, there was an increased prevalence of accompanying ligamentous injuries. CONCLUSION: In tibial plateau fractures, MR imaging is a useful diagnostic modality for the evaluation of both fracture type and accompanying ligamentous or meniscal injuries.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Due to Vascular Abnormality Caused by D&E : Doppler Sonography for Diagnosis and Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for Treatment

PURPOSE: We attempted to evaluate the usefulness of Doppler sonography in the diagnosis of uterine vascular abnormality caused by previous D&E, and to report that transarterial embolization is an exceelent treatment modality. MATERIALS & METHODS: We analyzed gray-scale US, color/duplex Doppler US and angiographic findings inseven patients with radiologically proven uterine vascular abnormality. Two of the seven cases were pseudoaneurysms and five of the seven cases were AVMs. In one of the AVMs, two small pseudoaneurysms were combined. In all cases, transarterial embolizations using 3mm coil or/and gelfoam particles were performed. Follow-up US studies, including color Doppler US, were performed. RESULTS: On color/duplex Doppler sonography, two cases of pseudoaneurysm showed blood pools with turbulent arterial flow, and five cases of AVM showed asymmetrically increased vascularity, with variable high velocities composed of the pulsatie arterial flow, with ahigh diastoic component. On angiography, the former showed pseudoaneurysmal sacs, and the latter densely opacified vascular tangles. No more abnormal uterine bleeding was shown, following transarterial embolization in all cases. CONCLUSION: Color/duplex Doppler sonography was valuable in the diagnosis or treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding caused by uterine vascular abnormality such as acquired AVM or pseudoaneurysm.