OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the long-term clinical and radiological findings of cases diagnosed with spinal concussion and to describe the spinal cord injuries that are detected in the later course.
METHODS: Data obtained from 91 cases who had been diagnosed with spinal concussion were retrospectively evaluated. Cases were evaluated under two groups based on the type of trauma as those subjected to axial forces and those subjected to vertical forces. Late spinal MRI scans of the cases taken more than 6 months post-trauma were inspected.
RESULTS: Axial and vertical forces result in different types of spine injuries. While the effect of vertical forces on the spinal cord can involve longer segments, the effect of axial forces remains limited to a few segments. Vertical forces usually result in the development of syringomyelias in the late period, whereas axial forces may cause cavitation and stretch injuries in the spinal cord.
CONCLUSIONS: Although spinal concussion cases manifest complete recovery in the early period following trauma, findings related to the spinal cord may appear in the later course. The direction of the forces that the spinal cord is subjected to may result in different cord injuries in the late period.