Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice ›› 2024, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (4): 487-492.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2024.04.015

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Wallerian degeneration in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury: a magnetic resonance imaging study

YUAN Yuan1,2a, ZHOU Hongjun1,2a(), WEI Bo1,2a(), CONG Xinying1,2b, LIU Genlin1,2a, ZHENG Ying1,2a, HAO Chunxia1,2a, ZHANG Ying1,2a, WANG Yiji1,2a, KANG Haiqiong1,2a, LU Xiaolei1,2a, MENG Qianru1,2a   

  1. 1. Capital Medical University School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing 100068, China
    2. a. Department of Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation; b. Department of Radiology, Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing 100068, China
  • Received:2023-12-07 Revised:2024-03-13 Published:2024-04-25 Online:2024-05-08
  • Contact: ZHOU Hongjun, E-mail: zh87569303@qq.com; WEI Bo, E-mail: wogre@163.com
  • Supported by:
    China National Key R & D Program(2020YFC2007505)

Abstract:

Objective To explore the signal characteristics of Wallerian degeneration (WD) of the spinal cord in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury.

Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted. From January, 2015 to December, 2021, the clinical data of 191 patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury in Beijing Boai Hospital were included. According to sagittal and axial T2-weighted images (T2WI) of routine cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the patients were divided into WD group and non-WD group. The gender, age, mechanism of injury, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS), neurological level, and time interval to obtain MRI after injury were compared between two groups. The characteristics of WD in dorsal column (DC), lateral spinothalamic tract (ST) and lateral corticospinal tract (CS) were analyzed.

Results A total of 115 cases (60.2%) showed WD. There were significant differences in age, mechanism of injury, AIS grade, and time interval to obtain MRI after injury between two groups (Z > 3.820, χ2 > 9.104, P< 0.05). In WD group, the occurrence rates of WD in DC and ST above the injury site were 100% and 87%, respectively. Below the injury site, the occurrence rate of WD in CS was 35.7%. Based on the pattern of WD signal appearance, three groups were identified: 15 cases (13%) had only DC signal changes, 59 cases (51.3%) had changes in both DC and ST, and 41 cases (35.7%) had changes in all the three locations (DC, ST and CS). There was significant difference in the time interval to obtain MRI after injury (H = 90.794, P< 0.05) among three groups, while there was no significance in AIS grade (P> 0.05).

Conclusion Routine MRI examination with T2WI could detect WD signals in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury, and the occurrence of WD is associated with post-injury time.

Key words: traumatic cervical spinal cord injury, Wallerian degeneration, magnetic resonance imaging, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale

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