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Anterior and posterior cervical spine fixation using titanium implants to facilitate magnetic resonance imaging
E R Savolaine1, N A Ebraheim, T G Andreshak
1Department of Radiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699.
Abstract:
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the cervical spine is useful in the evaluation of both acute and chronic injuries to the spinal cord and meninges as well as in demonstration of mechanical impingement on the spinal canal and nerve roots. Anterior or posterior plate fixation of unstable cervical spine injuries has limited the postoperative use of MR imaging due to the extensive magnetic field distortion produced by the stainless steel implants commonly used in these procedures. We have compared titanium implants in a cadaver against stainless steel implants in two patients and show no significant MR artifacts produced in the spinal canal by titanium plates as opposed to extensive image distortion and obliteration by the steel plates. We recommend consideration of titanium (Ti6A14V) as a substitute for stainless steel in cervical spine fixation to preserve the option of subsequent examination by MR scanning.