SCIWORA With and Without Spinal Cord Abnormalities on MRI

Children with normal magnetic resonance image findings were more likely to have normal neurologic outcomes.

In a planned secondary analysis of children presenting to Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network centers with spinal cord injury without radiologic abnormality (SCIWORA), investigators compared characteristics and outcomes between those who did and did not have cervical cord signal changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients were classified as having SCIWORA if they had clinical evidence of spinal cord injuries but no cervical ligamentous or bony abnormalities found on plain radiography, computed tomography (when performed), or MRI.

Of 69 children with SCIWORA who underwent MRI, 22% had abnormal spinal cord MRI findings, and 78% had normal findings. Children with abnormal MRI findings were younger (median age, 8 vs. 12 y…

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

SCIWORA With and Without Spinal Cord Abnormalities on MRI

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Reviewing Author