Flexion and extension cervical MRI in a pediatric population.

Abstract

Cervical spine flexion/extension magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used in 17 pediatric patients (age, 9 months to 12 years) for assessment of spinal cord compression secondary to instability. Nine of these patients had cord compression demonstrated on flexion/ extension MRI (flexion and extension, five; flexion, three; extension, one). These nine patients all had neurologic manifestations and underwent surgery. Patients without spinal cord compression on MRI did not demonstrate any neurologic manifestations. Flexion/extension MRI of the cervical spine was very useful in selecting appropriate patients for arthrodesis and determining the necessity for concurrent anterior or posterior decompression.