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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
An In Vivo Duo-color Method for Imaging Vascular Dynamics Following Contusive Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: December 31, 2017
Spinal cord metabolism and muscle water diffusion in whiplash
J M Elliott1, A R Pedler, G Cowin
1School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. j-elliott@northwestern.edu
Study Design:
Case series.
Objectives:
To quantify spinal cord metabolites and neck muscle fast and slow water diffusion in a small sample of patients with chronic whiplash and healthy controls.
Setting:
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Methods:
In five subjects with chronic whiplash and seven controls, we performed magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of the cervical spinal cord and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the cervical multifidus muscle.
Results:
Significant reductions in N-acetylaspartate/creatine ratios were found in subjects with chronic whiplash when compared with healthy controls (P = 0.02). Significantly higher fast apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were found in chronic whiplash when compared with the healthy controls (P = 0.01). There was no difference in slow ADCs between the two groups (P = 0.3).
Conclusion:
The potential value of MRS and DWI to quantify the presence of neuromuscular degeneration as a potential mechanism underlying chronic whiplash is recognized. Larger-scaled prospective studies are warranted and required.
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