Magnetic resonance findings and outcome in ten cats with traumatic spondylomyelopathy

In this retrospective study, the MR findings of ten cats with acute post-traumatic spondylomyelopathy were described and the most useful MR sequences were determined. Spinal cord injury (SCI), bone and muscle trauma were compared with the clinical outcome (recovery or euthanasia). The extension of spinal cord injury (SCI) was measured in vertebral body length (VBL). Of the ten cats, only five fully recovered. In the recovery group, no SCI (n=1) or SCI <1 VBL (n=4) were found. In the group of euthanized dogs, SCI > 2 VBLs (n=4) or spinal cord transection (n=1) were found. Lesions were best seen on T2WSE (spinal cord injury), STIR (soft tissue trauma) and T1WSE (bone injury). Low-field MR was therefore helpful to assess feline spinal trauma and may prove helpful to predict the clinical outcome, although a larger case series is needed. The authors suggest that protocols with low-field MR should include T1WSE, T2WSE and STIR sequences.