How Often Would MRI Change the Thoracolumbar Fracture Classification or Decision-Making Compared to CT Alone?

Study design: retrospective study of consecutive patients.

Objective: to analyze the frequency of change in Thoracolumbar fractures (TLFs) classification or decision-making after MRI compared by CT alone.

Methods: A retrospective review of 244 consecutive patients with acute TLFs (T1-L5) presented to a single level 1 trauma center between 2014 and 2021. Three and 4 reviewers independently classified all fractures according to AOSpine and AOSpine injury severity score (TLAOSIS) by CT then MRI, respectively. Posterior ligamentous complex Injury (PLC) was diagnosed on CT and MRI by ≥ 2 positive CT findings and Black stripe discontinuity.

Results: MRI changed AO classification in 25/244 patients (10.2%, P < .0001) due to an 8.2% upgrade from type A to type B and a 2% downgrade from type B to type A. The addition of MRI changed TL AOSIS among the 3 treatment recommendation groups in 35/244 (19.7%, 95% CI [14.9%-25.2%]. The best predictor of upgrade from type A to type B and downgrade from type B to type A was a single positive CT finding and the presence of only 2 CT signs as opposed to ≥3 signs, respectively (P < .0001 P = .03, respectively). Thoracic fractures showed a significantly higher reclassification rate than thoracolumbar and low lumbar (20% vs 10% and 0%, respectively, P = .07).

Conclusion: using appropriate CT/MRI criteria for PLC injury, MRI changed the AOSpine classification by 10% and TLAOSIS based treatment by 19.7%. The best predictors of fracture reclassification by MRI were the number of positive CT findings and fracture level.