Key points 1 Spinal trauma and spinal cord

Key points 1. Spinal trauma and spinal cord injury, one of the most debilitating ailments, need a thorough clinical and radiological evaluation to plan management and hence optimize the outcome. 2. Recognising the need to review the existing literature for radiological evaluation of spinal trauma with or without spinal cord injury (SCI) and recommend a protocol for radiological evaluation of spinal trauma Spinal Cord Society India established a panel of experts in this regard. 3. The position statement compiled by the panel was discussed and finalized in an open forum during the SCS Annual Meeting, ISSICON. Yelamarthy PKK, Chhabra HS, Vaksha V, Agarwal Y, Agarwal A, Das K, Erli HJ, Bapat M, Singh R, Gautam D, Tandon R, Balamurali G, Rajan S (2019) Radiological Protocol in Spinal Trauma: Literature review and Spinal Cord Society Position Statement. Eur Spine J;

Number of studies A. B. C. D. E. F. 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 17 studies 19 studies 14 studies 13 studies 11 studies 5 studies A B C D E F Studies evaluating role of CT and plain radiographs in cervical spine trauma Studies evaluating role of dynamic radiographs in acute cervical blunt trauma Studies evaluating clearance of spine injury in obtunded blunt trauma patients Studies evaluating role of imaging in suspected vertebral artery injury after blunt spine trauma Studies evaluating role of CT and plain radiographs in thoracolumbar spine trauma Studies evaluating role of MRI in spine trauma victims Yelamarthy PKK, Chhabra HS, Vaksha V, Agarwal Y, Agarwal A, Das K, Erli HJ, Bapat M, Singh R, Gautam D, Tandon R, Balamurali G, Rajan S (2019) Radiological Protocol in Spinal Trauma: Literature review and Spinal Cord Society Position Statement. Eur Spine J;

Take Home Messages 1. CT is the first line of investigation for evaluating spinal trauma. 2. However, plain radiographs continue to be the first line of imaging for both cervical and thoracolumbar injuries in many settings, especially in emerging countries. 3. MRI is indicated in cases with neurological involvement, advanced cervical degenerative changes and to know the extent of soft tissue injury i. e. disco-ligamentous injuries as well as epidural space compromise. Yelamarthy PKK, Chhabra HS, Vaksha V, Agarwal Y, Agarwal A, Das K, Erli HJ, Bapat M, Singh R, Gautam D, Tandon R, Balamurali G, Rajan S (2019) Radiological Protocol in Spinal Trauma: Literature review and Spinal Cord Society Position Statement. Eur Spine J;