[The traumatized and surgically treated spine. Current diagnostic imaging]

In trauma patients X-ray and CT are the important imaging modalities for detecting instability of the spine and determining the cause of a spinal cord lesion. MRI should be done to demonstrate the spinal cord lesion itself. Operations on spinal injuries are based on X-ray films and CT. Polydirectional tomography is valuable in the assessment of bone healing, determining osteomyelitis with fistulae, pseudarthrosis and imaging of bone graft fusion in the presence of metallic fixation devices. MRI is indicated for diagnosis and ascertaing the prognosis of spinal cord lesions. In the long-term follow-up syrinx, myelomalacia and atrophy can be differentiated. MRI can also be done for osteomyelitis and complications of bone graft fusion.