An international study published last month in The Lancet Neurology concluded that a simple measurement from MRI scans can accurately predict recovery outcomes for patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). These findings have the potential to improve both the treatment and rehabilitation of SCI patients and to enhance the effectiveness of research into new experimental treatments.
The current standard for predicting recovery is a series of neurological tests taken at hospital admission, which are often unreliable.
Previous neuroimaging studies suggested that MRI biomarkers, such as a tissue bridge (preserved tissue adjacent to the injury), could reliably predict recovery. Building on this insight, researchers recorded the width of tissue bridges in MRI scans from 227 patients with cervical SCI, admitted to hospitals in Denver, Germany and Switzerland. The MRIs were taken three to four weeks after the injury and again at three months, at the time of hospital discharge.
The results were compared with patients’ standard neurological test scores recorded at admission and discharge, providing enough data to create a statistical model that could be replicated at all three hospitals. For every millimeter of preserved tissue bridge width, a patient was likely to gain 5.9 points (out of 100) on their motor score and 6.4 points (out of 112) on their light touch score after three months.
Researchers are now using artificial intelligence to refine the model to further improve forecasting valid predictions of tissue bridges. They hope their findings will not only benefit patient care but also help increase the feasibility and efficiency of clinical studies.
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