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Qi Q, Wang L, Yang B, Jia Y, Wang Y, Xin H, Zheng W, Chen X, Chen Q, Li F, Du J, Lu J, Chen N. The relationship between the structural changes in the cervical spinal cord and sensorimotor function of children with thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI). Spinal Cord 2024; 62:414-420. [PMID: 38824252 PMCID: PMC11230908 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-024-01000-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES To study the relationship between the structural changes in the cervical spinal cord (C2/3 level) and the sensorimotor function of children with traumatic thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI) and to discover objective imaging biomarkers to evaluate its functional status. SETTING Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, China. METHODS 30 children (age range 5-13 years) with TLSCI and 11 typically developing (TD) children (age range 6-12 years) were recruited in this study. Based on whether there is preserved motor function below the neurological level of injury (NLI), the children with TLSCI are divided into the AIS A/B group (motor complete) and the AIS C/D group (motor incomplete). A Siemens Verio 3.0 T MR scanner was used to acquire 3D high-resolution anatomic scans covering the head and upper cervical spinal cord. Morphologic parameters of the spinal cord at the C2/3 level, including cross-sectional area (CSA), anterior-posterior width (APW), and left-right width (LRW) were obtained using the spinal cord toolbox (SCT; https://www.nitrc.org/projects/sct ). Correlation analyses were performed to compare the morphologic spinal cord parameters and clinical scores determined by the International Standard for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries (ISNCSCI) examination. RESULTS CSA and LRW in the AIS A/B group were significantly lower than those in the TD group and the AIS C/D group. LRW was the most sensitive imaging biomarker to differentiate the AIS A/B group from the AIS C/D group. Both CSA and APW were positively correlated with ISNCSCI sensory scores. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative measurement of the morphologic spinal cord parameters of the cervical spinal cord can be used as an objective imaging biomarker to evaluate the neurological function of children with TLSCI. Cervical spinal cord atrophy in children after TLSCI was correlated with clinical grading; CSA and APW can reflect sensory function. Meanwhile, LRW has the potential to be an objective imaging biomarker for evaluating motor function preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunya Qi
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Beining Yang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Yulong Jia
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Haotian Xin
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Weimin Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100020, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Jubao Du
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Lu
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Chen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100053, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, 100053, Beijing, China.
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