ISSN:
1438-1435
Keywords:
Cervical vertebrae
;
Facet dislocation
;
Computed tomography
;
Magnetic resonance imaging
;
Diagnostic imaging
;
Joint injury
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract We describe neural foraminal enlargement as a radiologic sign indicating bilateral interfacetal dislocation or subluxation injuries (BID/S) of the lower cervical spine on axial images. Axial neural formainal width was measured by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging in 10 patients with BID/S and compared with measurements in 20 control patients. In both the BID/S patients and controls, the size of the foramina at the injured level was compared with the foramina at levels immediately above and below the injury. These measurements were compared for statistical significance using Student's t-test. The width of the injured foramina averaged 10.4 mm in BID/S and 5.3 mm in controls (P〈0.001). The enlargement in the BID/S cases relative to foramina above and below the injured level was statistically significant. The sign was also assessed qualitatively for detection of BID/S by three reviewers blindly analyzing 19 cases (9 BID/S and 10 controls) for signs of widened neural foramina. The pooled blinded review yielded a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 83% for neural foraminal enlargement as a sign indicative of BID/S. We describe enlargement, of neural foramina as a radiologic sign corroborative of BID/S on axial images.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01451075
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