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Review
. 2020 Jun;64(3):368-376.
doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13016. Epub 2020 Mar 15.

Magnetic resonance imaging of cervical ligamentous anatomy and traumatic ligamentous injuries

Sravanthi Mantripragada  1 , Anbalagan Kannivelu  1 , Wilfred Cg Peh  1
Affiliations
Review

Magnetic resonance imaging of cervical ligamentous anatomy and traumatic ligamentous injuries

Sravanthi Mantripragada et al. J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Cervical spine trauma accounts for majority of spinal injuries, and approximately one-third involve the craniocervical junction (CCJ). Due to its high sensitivity, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the standard tool for imaging suspected ligamentous injuries in an unstable spine and in patients with neurological deficits having a normal CT. The ligamentous anatomy of the CCJ is complex, and thorough knowledge is a prerequisite for accurate interpretation of the MRI findings. This pictorial essay aims to familiarise radiologists with the ligamentous anatomy, mechanisms of injury and MRI appearances of injuries in the cervical spine, with emphasis on the CCJ.

Keywords: alar ligament; cervical spine injury; craniocervical junction; tectorial membrane; transverse ligament.

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References

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