Diffusion Tensor Imaging Correlates with Short-Term Myelopathy Outcome in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Authors

Aditya Vedantam, Baylor College of MedicineFollow
Avinash Rao, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, MadisonFollow
Shekar N. Kurpad, Medical College of WisconsinFollow
Michael B. Jirjis, Marquette UniversityFollow
Gerald Eckardt, Medical College of WisconsinFollow
Brian D. Schmit, Marquette UniversityFollow
Marjorie C. Wang, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, MadisonFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Publication Date

1-2017

Publisher

Springer

Source Publication

World Neurosurgery

Source ISSN

ISSN: 1878-8750

Abstract

Objective

To determine if spinal cord diffusion tensor imaging indexes correlate with short-term clinical outcome in patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM).

Methods

A prospective consecutive cohort study was performed in patients undergoing elective cervical spine surgery for CSM. After obtaining informed consent, patients with CSM underwent preoperative T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging of the cervical spine. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values at the level of maximum cord compression and at the noncompressed C1-2 level were calculated on axial images. We recorded the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale, Neck Disability Index, and Short Form-36 physical functioning subscale scores for all patients preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Statistical analysis was performed to identify correlations between FA and clinical outcome scores.

Results

The study included 27 patients (mean age 54.5 years ± 1.9, 12 men). The mean postoperative changes in mJOA scale, Neck Disability Index, and Short Form-36 physical functioning subscale scores were 0.9 ± 0.3, −6.0 ± 1.9, and 3.4 ± 1.9. The mean FA at the level of maximum compression was significantly lower than the mean FA at the C1-2 level (0.5 vs. 0.55, P = 0.01). FA was significantly correlated with change in mJOA scale score (Pearson r = −0.42, P = 0.02). FA was significantly correlated with the preoperative mJOA scale score (Pearson r = 0.65, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Preoperative FA at the level of maximum cord compression significantly correlates with the 3-month change in mJOA scale score among patients with CSM. FA was also significantly associated with preoperative mJOA scale score and is a potential biomarker for spinal cord dysfunction in CSM.

Comments

Accepted version. World Neurosurgery, Vol. 97 (January 2017): 489-494. DOI. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Vedantam, Aditya; Rao, Avinash; Kurpad, Shekar N.; Jirjis, Michael B.; Eckardt, Gerald; Schmit, Brian D.; and Wang, Marjorie C., "Diffusion Tensor Imaging Correlates with Short-Term Myelopathy Outcome in Patients with Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy" (2017). Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 467.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/bioengin_fac/467