Significance of T2 Hyperintensity on Magnetic Resonance Imaging After Cervical Cord Injury and Return to Play in Professional Athletes

Neurosurgery
Zachary J TempelJoseph C Maroon

Abstract

Cervical cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 hyperintensity is used as evidence of cord trauma in the evaluation and management of athletes in contact sports. The long-term pathophysiologic and prognostic value of this finding is poorly understood, especially in return to play (RTP). To examine the significance of T2 hyperintensity in the cervical spinal cord of professional athletes. Retrospective review of MRI T2 hyperintensity findings between 2007 and 2014 in 5 professional athletes. Pertinent examination and demographics, including mechanism of injury, surgical intervention, radiographs, MRI studies, long-term outcomes, and RTP recommendations were collected. Four National Football League players and 1 professional wrestler had prior traumatic neurapraxia that at the time of initial consultation had resolved. MRIs showed congenitally small cervical canal (1) and multilevel spondylosis/stenosis/disc herniation (4) along with focal cord T2 hyperintensity (5). The signal abnormalities were at C3/C4 (3), C4 mid-vertebral body (1), and C5/C6 (1). Four athletes had single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, and 1 was nonoperative. Serial MRI imaging at 3 months after surgery showed hyperintensity partially resolv...Continue Reading

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Apr 26, 2013·Neurosurgery·Joseph C MaroonMatt El-Kadi

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Citations

Apr 2, 2016·Neurosurgical Focus·Andrei F JoaquimAlpesh A Patel
Nov 12, 2016·The Spine Journal : Official Journal of the North American Spine Society·Narihito NagoshiMichael G Fehlings
Feb 3, 2016·Global Spine Journal·Robert W MolinariKenneth E Dehaven
Jul 20, 2019·Orthopedics·Richard R Pahapill, Wellington K Hsu
Dec 7, 2018·International Orthopaedics·Jonathan T Yamaguchi, Wellington K Hsu
Jul 7, 2018·Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine·Robert Green WatkinsRobert Green Watkins
Feb 16, 2021·Neurosurgery·Ehsan Dowlati, Jean-Marc Voyadzis
May 31, 2021·Clinics in Sports Medicine·Wellington K Hsu
May 31, 2021·Clinics in Sports Medicine·Robert G Watkins, Robert G Watkins

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