Imaging and scoring method for cervical spinal impairment using magnetic resonance imaging

摘要

A non-evasive scoring method uses magnetic resonance imaging following kinematic movement of the cervical spine to determine the degree of impairment following injury, particularly soft tissue injury typical in rear, low-impact motor vehicle collisions. A system using the method includes an assessment algorithm employing four (4) categories of variables of hypolordosis, motion restriction, disk herniation and spinal stenosis, a numerical score assigned to each variable and a clinical classification assigned to a patient based on summation of scores assigned to each variable. This method is designated by the acronym, STIP, for Soft Tissue Injury Protocol.