What Does An MRI Of The Cervical Spine Show?

The best way to point out the advantages of undergoing a Cervical spine MRI is to compare it with the results that can be obtained from a CT scan. An MRI of the cervical spine offers several advantages over a CT scan. The most important of which are as follows:

• It shows a clearer view of the small structures in the spine.

• It shows a detailed view of the soft tissues in the spine, which includes muscles, ligaments, discs, and cerebrospinal fluid.

• It provides more information that helps more properly diagnose any abnormalities, injuries, and diseases of the cervical spine.

• It provides more information to properly prepare for cervical spine surgery.
  

Based on the Global Burden of Disease report 1990 to 2013, neck pain is the fourth major cause of years lived with disability. As with other diseases, early diagnosis and treatment can help curb the trend, and an MRI of the cervical spine can be a well-placed tool to help with that objective.

The Anatomy Of Your Spine

Whether you are just generally worried about hearing cracking sounds on your Spine, or already considering cervical spine surgery, there is some basic information you need to know about your spinal structure to better understand your condition:

• Your cervical spine is made up of 33 bones.

• Anatomically, your spinal cord can be grouped into five sections: Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacrum, and Coccyx. Your cervical spine, the top part which is located at the back of your neck, consists of 7 rows.

• Your cervical spine is held together by discs and ligaments.

• Nerves run throughout the spine, connecting the brain to the rest of the body.
  

Injury to any part of your spinal column, spinal cord, discs, or ligaments can lead to damage to the spine. All of which may be captured as abnormal Cervical Spine MRI after scanning and will provide a doctor with robust information about its cause and how the condition can be treated, corrected, or managed.

Diseases Of The Cervical Spine And Corresponding Treatments

Most people undergoing an MRI scan of the cervical spine will typically show some level of wear and tear in this area. However, some will develop damage to the spine earlier and at much faster rates, particularly when one or more of the following causes and risk factors are present or experienced:

• Trauma. Injuries and falls resulting in pelvic fractures and head injuries, as well as motor vehicle collisions, are all considered risk factors for developing cervical spine injury. Permanent and irreversible damage to the nerves, ligaments, vertebrae, or disks of the spine may be caused.

• Alcohol Use. This risk factor is usually associated with accidental traumas and violence, potentially resulting to spinal cord injuries.

• Co-morbidities. Chronic diseases such as arthritis, cancer, and inflammation of the spine can all lead to spine damage or injury. The presence of a disorder of the bones or joints significantly increases the potential for spine disease to develop.

• Age. Since older adults are more likely to experience physical traumas, particularly due to falls, they are at higher risk for developing cervical spine injuries and diseases.

• Obesity and inactivity. Extra weight puts added pressure on your spine while being inactive can lead to stiffness.

• Poor posture. It disproportionately distributes your body weight which may cause too much pressure on one part of your spine.
  

Some diseases of the spine may only require treatment and rehab, while worse cases may necessitate surgery. Among the abnormalities that an MRI scan of the cervical spine can show are tumors, bone defects, aneurysms, structural damages to the soft tissues, abnormal curvature, spinal deformities, and spinal birth defects.

Two of the most common diseases affecting the spine are:

• Cervical Spine Arthritis. Also known as arthritis of the neck, this condition is medically termed as “Cervical Spondylosis. The major driving factor for developing this condition is age. Causes include poorly lubricated and herniated discs, overuse or lack of exercise, overweight, injury, and bone overgrowths
  The condition is typically accompanied by chronic pain and stiffness. Since cervical spine and hearing loss are closely associated, symptoms may also include hearing impairment, vertigo, limited range of motion, tinnitus or ringing in the ears, and loss of balance. Pain management, physical therapy, and halting further damage are key treatment objectives. Surgery of the cervical spine is only considered after non-invasive options have been considered but, do not lead to desirable results.

• Cervical stenosis. This is a condition brought about by the narrowing of the spinal canal, where the most common cause is age and degeneration. Loss of lubrication and abnormal spine growth may also result in this condition.
  This condition is typically accompanied by pain, numbness or weakness of the hands, arms, and legs, poor coordination of gait, and loss of dexterity of hands. Pain management and therapy take primary consideration. However, when these fail, cervical spine surgery may be the only viable option.

PAAs:

• Can a Cervical Spine MRI detect MS?

Although MRI may be already used for this purpose, further improvements in MRI technology is currently being tested to improve its ability to help in diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

• What symptoms do MS spinal lesions cause?

Back pain may be manifested, along with numbness, weakness, or tingling of the arms or legs. Other reported symptoms also include loss of dexterity of the hands and loss of balance and coordination.

• What is cervical spine syndrome?

The term is loosely used to refer to neck pain which may extend to pain in the head and shoulders. Underlying causes usually involve the bones (orthopedic) or nerves (neurological) and may include tumors, cervical spine diseases, loss of lubrication, and hardening of neck muscles.

• What is considered severe cervical spinal stenosis?

When the condition progresses in spite of therapy and medication, this condition may lead to severe compression of the spinal cord. Results may lead to myelopathy which can manifest as loss of coordination, chronic weakness, pain, or numbness. If not properly managed, severe stenosis of the cervical spine may cause permanent nerve damage, disability, and death.

• Is cervical spine surgery safe?

Based on the best available data, cervical spine surgery is generally safe. Based on a limited population study, none of the patients undergoing cervical spine surgery experienced complications during and after the operation. The researchers concluded that this was the result of proper surgery preparation and co-morbidity management. To satisfy these conditions, it is imperative that you coordinate closely with your physicians, most especially if you have other comorbidities that may affect the success of your operation.

When Should You Be Concerned About Pain On Your Cervical Spine?

Since adults often complain about these conditions, it pays to know what other red flags to watch out for. The following are symptoms of cervical spine disease:

• Chronic digestive problems, incontinence, and poor bowel control

• Loss of sense of touch

• Hypotension and hypertension

• Painful movements and difficulty moving around

• Chronic, persistent, and frequent pain on the head, nerves, and various areas of your body

If you observe chronic pain on your cervical spine and frequent headaches, accompanied by any other symptom listed above, do not hesitate to consult with your doctor. Follow your doctor’s orders closely and make sure to stay in the treatment program prescribed for you. If you have it, please remember to check that your private health insurance covers MRI of the cervical spine in case your doctor refers you for an MRI.

References:

Global Burden of Disease Study Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2013. Lancet. 2015;386(9995):743–800. Link:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60692-4/ full-text Access Date: 24 Apr 2020

Clayton, JL, et.al (2012). Risk factors for cervical spine injury. Injury J. 2012 Apr;43(4):431-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2011.06.022. Epub 2011 Jul 2. Link:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21726860 Access Date: 24 Apr 2020 Vasaghi Gharamaleki, B, and Nazer, Z. (2017). Predicting the risk of hearing impairment following cervical spine diseases by measuring the cervical range of movements: A pilot study. Basic Clin. Neurosci. 2017 Sep-Oct; 8(5): 413-418. DOI: 10.18869/nirp.bcn.8.5.413 Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5691173/ Access Date: 24 Ap 2020

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Cervical Spine. Link: https://www.aans.org/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Cervical-Spine Access Date: 24 Apr 2020 Moccia, Marcello, et.al. (2019). Advances in spinal cord imaging in multiple sclerosis. Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2019; 12: 1756286419840593. Published online 2019 Apr 22. DOI: 10.1177/1756286419840593 Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6477770/ Access Date: 24 Apr 2020

Wang, C, et..al (2017). Intraoperative Death During Cervical Spinal Surgery: A Retrospective Multicenter Study. Global Spine J. 2017 Apr; 7(1 Suppl): 127S-131S. Published online 2017 Apr 1. DOI: 10.1177/2192568217694005 Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5400200/ Access Date: 24 Apr 2020