Clinical application of MRI in the diagnosis of peripheral ligament injury after thoracolumbar fractures

YU Bo

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2016.16.008

Abstract：Objective To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) characteristics in posterior longitudinal ligament ( PLL) injury after thoracolumbar fracture and its significance in clinical practice .Methods The MRI image data about 65 patients with thoracolumbar fractures before and after treatment in our hospital from January 2010 to October 2015 were retrospectively analyzed .The MRI grading for PLL injury was performed ,moreover, the correlation between MRI grading for PLL injury and efficiency of indirect spinal canal decompression before and after surgery was analyzed .The concordance between MRI grading of PLL injury and intraoperative examination results was identified further by exploring the severity of PLL injury during operation .Results MRI examination could show the severity of PLL injury , which could be classified into 3 grades,grade Ⅰ:ligament contusion;grade Ⅱ:ligament partial tearing; grade Ⅲ:ligament complete tearing .The gading of PLL injury before operation was highly consistent with the results of intraoperative exploration ,moreover, MRI gading of PLL injury was closely correlated to the efficiency of indirect spinal canal decompression .Conclusion MRI examination plays an important role in definite diagnosis of the severity of PLL injury ,moreover , the MRI grading of PLL injury degree is helpful to evaluate the severity of thoracolumbar injury , besides, the integrity of posterior longitudinal ligament is quite important in evaluating the efficiency of indirect spinal canal decompression in thoracolumbar fractures .