The presence or absence of midsagittal tissue bridges and walking: a retrospective cohort study in spinal cord injury

This study investigates the relationship between tissue bridges in the spinal cord and walking ability in veterans with spinal cord injuries. Midsagittal tissue bridges are a measurement of preserved neural tissue. The researchers analyzed MRI scans of 22 veterans with cervical spinal cord injuries to determine the presence and width of these tissue bridges. They then compared these measurements to the participants' ability to walk. The study found that individuals with tissue bridges were more likely to be able to walk, and those without tissue bridges were unable to walk. The width of the tissue bridges also correlated with walking ability.

• 1
  71% of participants with midsagittal tissue bridges were able to walk overground.
• 2
  All individuals with no apparent tissue bridges were unable to walk.
• 3
  There was a significant correlation between walking and widths of ventral midsagittal tissue bridges (r = 0.69, p < 0.001) and dorsal midsagittal tissue bridges (r = 0.44, p = 0.039).