Feasibility of 3.0 T diffusion-weighted nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of functional recovery of rats with complete spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a kind of severe impairment in the central nervous system, which usually causes sensory, motor and autonomic disorders to varying degrees. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a commonly used method for the diagnosis of SCI and relevant disease. Conventional MRI is better than CT examination in visualizing the morphology of the spinal cord and the variation of signals, but it is difficult to assess functional status and fine structure using T1, T2 and other parameters Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows a more sensitive diagnosis of SCI than conventional MRI examination. Fiber tractography (FT) contributes to the visualization of white matter fibers, structural integrity and the damage of the fiber bundle.

• 1
  The fractional anisotropy scores after spinal cord transection in rats were significantly lower than those in normal rats (P < 0.05); the apparent diffusion coefficient was significantly increased compared with the normal group (P < 0.05).
• 2
  Following spinal cord transection, fractional anisotropy scores were negatively correlated with apparent diffusion coefficient values (r = –0.856, P < 0.01), and positively correlated with the average combined scores (r = 0.943, P < 0.01), while apparent diffusion coefficient values had a negative correlation with the average combined scores (r = –0.949, P < 0.01).
• 3
  Experimental findings suggest that, as a non-invasive examination, diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging can provide qualitative and quantitative information about spinal cord injury. The fractional anisotropy score and apparent diffusion coefficient have a good correlation with the average combined scores, which reflect functional recovery after spinal cord injury.