ETIOLOGY OF NON-TRAUMATIC SPINAL CORD INJURIES AS ASSESSED ON MAGNETIC RESONENCE IMAGING

Background and Objectives: Non-traumatic spinal cord injuries are significant but under reported causes of paralysis with wide range of etiologic factors. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of causes of non-traumatic compressive myelopathy on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in patients with paraplegia / quadriplegia. Methods: This was a cross – sectional study conducted in Radiology department of Children Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore. A total of 150 patients were included in this study, which was carried out over a period of six months from July 2010 to January 2011. Approval was taken from hospital ethical committee. After obtaining informed verbal consent demographic data and results of causes of non-traumatic compressive myelopathy on MRI were obtained. Results: Mean age was 46.8 ± 11.6 years. Out of 150 patients, 99 patients (66%) were male while 51 pat- ients (34%) were female. Male to female ratio was 3:2. Out of 150 patients 105 (70%) presented with paraplegia and 45 patients (30.0%) presented with quadriplegia. On MRI, 57 patients (38.0%) were found to have tuberculosis of spine, 56 (37.3%) had degenerative spondylosis, 34 patients (22.7%) had tumors and 3 patients (2.0%) had pyogenic epidural abscess. Conclusion: It is concluded that tuberculosis of spine is the most common cause of compressive myelopathy followed by degenerative spondylosis and tumors.