Magnetic resonance imaging of acute trauma of the cervical spine: spectrum of findings.

This pictorial essay illustrates the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) spectrum of acute injury to the cervical spine. The authors discuss the appearance of the traumatized cord, including intramedullary hemorrhage, and the causes of spinal cord compression, such as disk herniation, epidural hematoma, fracture, dislocation and underlying spinal stenosis. The ability of MRI to directly reveal the severity of cord injury and, at the same time, to indicate the cause of cord compression is particularly useful in the management of incomplete injury, for which surgical intervention may prevent further deterioration.