Traumatic division of the spinal cord demonstrated by magnetic resonance imaging. Report of two cases.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is a new imaging technique that allows greater visualization of the spinal cord than other imaging modalities. This article reports on two cases of traumatic division of the spinal cord demonstrated by MRI. Both patients had complete transection of the spinal cord and did not have neurologic functional recovery distal to the spinal cord transection. MRI is applicable to diagnosis in acute conditions and to reveal division of the spinal cord, allowing prediction of an unlikely chance of neurologic recovery.