A Technique for Dynamic Cervical Magnetic Resonance Imaging Applied to Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Reliability Study

Study Design.
Cross-sectional study.
Objective.
To evaluate morphometric variations of the cervical spine in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) using a standard technique of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to assess the inter- and intraobserver reliability of measurements of morphometric parameters based on this imaging, and to compare the resulting measurements with those previously published.
Summary of Background Data.
Because dynamic factors may contribute to the etiology and severity of CSM, dynamic (flexion-extension) MRI may be useful to better evaluate for spinal stenosis and cord compromise.
Methods.
Dynamic cervical MRI was obtained using a standard protocol with the neck in neutral, flexion, and extension positions. The morphometric parameters considered were anterior length of the spinal cord (ALSC), posterior length of the spinal cord (PLSC), spinal canal diameter, and spinal cord width. Two observers analyzed the parameters independently, and the inter- and intraobserver reliabilities were assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results.
A total of 18 patients were included in the study and all completed the dynamic MRI acquisition protocol. The inter- and intraobserver reliabilities demonstrated “almost perfect agreement” (ICC>0.9, P 

Source: Spine - December 18, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Tags: DIAGNOSTICS Source Type: research