Cervical spinal cord injury without evidence of fracture or dislocation. An assessment of the radiological features.

An analysis of plain X-ray films, tomography and myelography in 30 patients with proven cervical spinal cord injury, whose X-ray films were negative, has been performed. Features considered were the sagittal diameter of the spinal canal, associated cervical spondylosis, soft tissue changes, mobility studies and the value in cases of cervical injury of two recently described radiological signs. The only consistent feature in the majority of patients was a large posterior osteophytic spur in the lower cervical spine. No other radiological feature was found to be of particular value in diagnosis.