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Imaging of Spinal Cord Trauma
Dario Pfyffer1, Gergely David2, Francis Farhadi3
1Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1070 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA; Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zurich, ZH, Switzerland.
Abstract:
This article outlines the evolving role of MRI in traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) across acute to chronic stages. Conventional MRI remains indispensable for diagnosis and early prognosis, while quantitative morphometrics such as tissue bridges and spinal cord cross-sectional area provide robust and clinically applicable predictors of post-SCI recovery. Advanced techniques, including diffusion, myelin-sensitive, and functional MRI, enable the detection of microstructural damage, remote neurodegeneration, and functional reorganization. Ongoing advances in scan protocol standardization, automated image analysis, and AI-driven lesion segmentation are expected to improve reproducibility and facilitate the integration of imaging biomarkers into clinical practice and interventional trials.