Role of Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in Post Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract
Background: Traumatic injuries of the spine are potentially catastrophic. If associated with neurologic damage, they lead to overwhelming medical, social, and financial consequences. DTI is an advanced neuroimaging technique that is considered sensitive to cord changes not seen on conventional MR imag-ing.
Aim of Study: The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in spinal cord (DTI) parameters in patients with post-traumatic spinal cord injury.
Material and Methods: The study was performed in Radiodiagnosis Department. Kasr El-Aini Hospitals in the period of January 2017 to January 2018. 25 patients presented with spinal cord transection after trauma (group 1) and 15 age matched controls (group 2) were included in this study. Conventional MRI and Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed in both groups. Time of imaging of group 1 varied between 2 to 4 years after trauma. Fraction anisotropy (FA) value was calculated at multiple levels proximal to the level of injury.
Results: This study demonstrates that FA values for patients with spinal cord injury are significantly lower than values in healthy individuals. Regional measurements of FA values at 5 cord levels showed significant decrease at the level of cord injury.
Conclusion: DTI can be considered sensitive marker of cord injury if compared with conventional MR imaging. It can predict the need for early therapeutic intervention and can be considered as baseline pre-operative study and in follow up post stem cell therapy.