Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Pathophysiological Differences Between Traumatic Injury and Degenerative Disease

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09662
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 56020:Orthopedics-related
• Research Institution: Japan Organization of Occupational Health and Safety, Spinal Injuries Center
• Principal Investigator: Morishita Yuichiro 独立行政法人労働者健康安全機構総合せき損センター(研究部), 独立行政法人労働者健康安全機構総合せき損センター(研究部), 研究員(移行) (20648555)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 非骨傷性頸髄損傷 / 頚椎症性脊髄症急性増悪 / 病態生理

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Our results suggest that the pathophysiology of cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) between traumatic injury and degenerative disorder are similar, but not identical.
The T2-weighted MR images for all patients showed an abnormally high intramedullary signal in the area of the injured segment at the first examination. At 12 months post-surgery, 47.62% of patients with traumatic CSCI and none with rapid progressive clinical deterioration of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (rp-CSM) had an abnormally low intramedullary signal change on T1-weighted MR images. The neurological improvement with rp-CSM was significantly greater than that with TCSCI at 12 months postoperatively.

Free Research Field

脊椎外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

現状では厳密な診断がされなかった外傷性頸髄損傷と変性疾患に伴う頸髄損傷が的確な鑑別診断ができることにより、適切な治療法を選択することができると考える。早期病態診断と適切な治療選択により、それぞれの早期社会復帰のための準備ができると考える。