Role of MRI in Evaluation of Compression Fractures

ABSTRACT

Background: Vertebral compression fractures have a variety of etiologies including trauma, osteoporosis or neoplasm. Osteoporotic compression fractures have prevalence of approximately 25% among postmenopausal women and occurs less frequently in similar aged men. Trauma is most common cause in those younger than 50 years of age. The aim of this study is to evaluate compression fracture in cases of spinal trauma. Aims and objectives: To evaluate compression fractures by magnetic resonance imaging in cases of spinal trauma. To document the spectrum of MRI findings in patients of compression fracture in cases of spinal trauma. To detect additional information about the nature and extent of tissue damage in patients with compression fractures. To study the incidence of injury and MRI morphology of ligaments, spinal cord, intervertebral discs, vertebra and extraspinal soft tissues in patients with compression fractures in cases of spinal trauma. Methods: This study was carried out at Department of Radiology, MGM Medical College and hospital Aurangabad. The study was conducted on 53 patients refereed to department of radiology between May 2018 to September 2019.All scans are done using PHILIPS MULTIVA1.5 tesla MRI system technique with Standard spine coil. Discussion: In our study, 53 patients underwent MRI for evaluation of traumatic compression fractures with majority being males. MRI was helpful in detecting bone marrow edema and was seen in 11 cases. Fractures with vertebral compression generated marrow edema. Most common type of spinal cord injury in our study was cord edema followed by compression. MR imaging is only imaging modality to assess spinal cord injury, to diagnose location and the severity of lesion and to detect cause of spinal cord compression. Conclusions: MRI plays a major role in the diagnosis of SCIs, directing early and prompt management and predicting prognosis of neurological recovery. MR imaging should be considered as primary imaging modality in assessing ligamentous injury. MRI should be recommended in all patients with suspected spinal compression fracture both as a diagnostic and prognostic indicator