Jin Ho Hong, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yeo-Ju Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Research Grant, General Electric Company

Hyunkyung Yoo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Youn Jeong Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Seung Hwan Yoon, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kyu Jung Cho, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Soon Gu Cho MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Won Hong Kim MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Chang Hae Suh, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

to evaluate the incidence, injury pattern of upper thoracic spinal injury in cervical trauma.

Two radiologists retrospectively reviewed the MRI of 67 consecutive patients who had undergone MRI after cervical trauma with consensus. On MRI, presences of upper thoracic spinal injury (T1, T2, T3, and T4) with cervical spinal injury (from C1 to C7) were checked. Morphology (compression, burst, distraction, and translation), level and single versus multilevel involvement of upper thoracic spinal injury were documented. For cervical spinal injury, injury morphology, injury level, prevertebral soft tissue swelling, discovertebral complex injury, spinal cord injury, and traumatic spinal cord compression were evaluated.

16/67 (23.8%) patients showed cervical spinal injury combined with upper thoracic spinal injury. All upper thoracic spinal injury showed compression morphology. Most frequently involved level was T3 (14/16, 87.5%). All but one upper thoracic spinal injury (15/16, 93.8%) showed multilevel involvement. The morphology of combined cervical spinal injury was compression (8/16, 50%), translation (5/16, 31.2%), burst (2/16, 12.5%), and distraction (1/16, 6.2%) in decreasing order of frequency. Associated finding of cervical spinal injury were discoligamentous complex injury (16/16, 100%), spinal cord injury (8/16, 50%), spinal cord compression (8/16, 50%), and prevertebral swelling (7/16, 43.8%).

In cervical trauma, accompanying upper thoracic spinal injury is not uncommon and is usually developed in the setting of severe discoligamentous complex injury.

Radiologist should be keep an eye on not only the cervical injury but also the upper thoracic vertebra especially in case of severe cervical discoligamentous complex injury.

Hong, J, Kim, Y, Yoo, H, Kim, Y, Yoon, S, Cho, K, Cho, S, Kim, W, Suh, C, The Incidence and Injury Pattern of Accompanying Upper Thoracic Spinal Injury in Cervical Trauma.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12032424.html