Pfender, NikolaiNikolaiPfenderRosner, JanJanRosnerZipser, Carl MoritzCarl MoritzZipserFriedl, SusanneSusanneFriedlVallotton, KevinKevinVallottonSutter, RetoRetoSutterKlarhoefer, MarkusMarkusKlarhoeferSchubert, MartinMartinSchubertBetz, MichaelMichaelBetzSpirig, José MiguelJosé MiguelSpirigSeif, MaryamMaryamSeifHubli, MichèleMichèleHubliFreund, PatrickPatrickFreundFarshad, MazdaMazdaFarshadCurt, ArminArminCurtHupp, MarkusMarkusHupp2024-10-112024-10-112022-11https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/86703BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The timing of decision-making for a surgical intervention in patients with mild degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is challenging. Spinal cord motion phase contrast MRI (PC-MRI) measurements can reveal the extent of dynamic mechanical strain on the spinal cord to potentially identify high-risk patients. This study aims to determine the comparability of axial and sagittal PC-MRI measurements of spinal cord motion with the prospect of improving the clinical workup. METHODS Sixty-four DCM patients underwent a PC-MRI scan assessing spinal cord motion. The agreement of axial and sagittal measurements was determined by means of intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman analyses. RESULTS The comparability of axial and sagittal PC-MRI measurements was good to excellent at all cervical levels (ICCs motion amplitude: .810-.940; p < .001). Significant differences between axial and sagittal amplitude values could be found at segments C3 and C4, while its magnitude was low (C3: 0.07 ± 0.19 cm/second; C4: -0.12 ± 0.30 cm/second). Bland-Altman analysis showed a good agreement between axial and sagittal PC-MRI scans (coefficients of repeatability: minimum -0.23 cm/second at C2; maximum -0.58 cm/second at C4). Subgroup analysis regarding anatomic conditions (stenotic vs. nonstenotic segments) and different velocity encoding (2 vs. 3 cm/second) showed comparable results. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates good comparability between axial and sagittal spinal cord motion measurements in DCM patients. To this end, axial and sagittal PC-MRI are both accurate and sensitive in detecting pathologic cord motion. Therefore, such measures could identify high-risk patients and improve clinical decision-making (ie, timing of decompression).encervical stenosis degenerative cervical myelopathy phase contrast MRI spinal cord compression spinal cord motion spinal cord oscillation600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & healtharticle10.48350/1719813596246410.1111/jon.13035