Medical imaging is critical evidence in spinal cord injury cases. MRI, CT scans, and X-rays provide objective documentation of spinal damage that proves injury severity and supports damage calculations.

Types of Spinal Imaging

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

MRI is the gold standard for visualizing spinal cord injuries:

  • Shows the spinal cord itself—not just bones like X-rays
  • Reveals cord swelling, hemorrhage, and damage
  • Detects disc herniations compressing the cord
  • Shows ligament injuries causing instability

MRI findings directly correlate with injury severity and prognosis. Extensive cord signal abnormalities indicate more severe injuries with poorer outcomes.

What MRI Shows

  • Cord edema—swelling indicating trauma
  • Cord hemorrhage—bleeding within the cord (worse prognosis)
  • Cord contusion—bruising of spinal cord tissue
  • Cord transection—complete severance (rare, worst prognosis)
  • Compression—bone or disc pressing on the cord

CT Scan (Computed Tomography)

CT scans excel at showing bone detail:

  • Vertebral fractures—location, severity, stability
  • Bone fragment displacement—into spinal canal
  • Spinal alignment—dislocations and malalignment
  • Surgical planning—detail needed for hardware placement

CT is often performed first in trauma situations because it's faster than MRI and better shows fractures requiring immediate stabilization.

X-Ray

Plain X-rays provide basic spinal information:

  • Vertebral alignment
  • Obvious fractures
  • Hardware position after surgery

X-rays have limited value for spinal cord injury cases because they don't show the spinal cord itself—only bones.

Imaging as Legal Evidence

Proving Injury Severity

Imaging provides objective evidence of:

  • Injury existence—visible damage proves injury occurred
  • Severity—extent of cord damage visible on MRI
  • Permanence—certain findings indicate permanent damage
  • Mechanism—imaging can show how injury occurred

Countering Defense Arguments

Defendants often argue injuries are exaggerated or pre-existing. Imaging evidence:

  • Shows acute versus chronic changes—fresh injuries look different
  • Documents injury immediately after accident
  • Provides objective evidence independent of symptoms

Supporting Damage Calculations

Imaging findings correlate with prognosis, supporting future damage projections:

  • Hemorrhagic cord injuries have worse outcomes
  • Extensive cord abnormalities predict more severe disability
  • Complete transection indicates permanent complete paralysis

Understanding Imaging Reports

Key MRI Findings

  • T2 hyperintensity—bright signal indicating edema or damage
  • T1 hypointensity—dark signal that may indicate hemorrhage or damage
  • Cord compression—spinal cord being pushed by bone or disc
  • Length of lesion—longer lesions correlate with worse outcomes

Key CT Findings

  • Burst fractures—vertebra shattered with fragments potentially in canal
  • Compression fractures—vertebra crushed from vertical load
  • Facet dislocations—joints between vertebrae disrupted
  • Canal compromise—percentage of spinal canal blocked

Expert Interpretation

Radiologists interpret imaging, but treating physicians and expert witnesses explain significance to juries:

  • What the findings mean for function and recovery
  • How findings correlate with clinical examination
  • Why certain findings indicate permanent injury
  • How imaging proves the accident caused the injury

Preserving Imaging Evidence

Obtain All Images

  • Request actual images (DICOM files), not just reports
  • Include images from all facilities—ER, hospital, outpatient
  • Get pre-accident imaging if it exists—shows no prior injury

Timeline Documentation

  • Initial imaging immediately after accident
  • Follow-up imaging showing evolution of injury
  • Current imaging demonstrating permanent damage

Using Imaging at Trial

Visual Presentations

Juries understand visual evidence:

  • Side-by-side comparisons—normal spine versus injured spine
  • Annotated images—arrows and labels highlighting damage
  • 3D reconstructions—from CT data showing fractures
  • Video explanations—experts walking through findings

Expert Testimony

Radiologists or treating physicians explain:

  • What each image shows in plain language
  • How findings prove injury severity
  • Why findings indicate permanent damage

Conclusion

Medical imaging provides objective, visual evidence of spinal cord damage that supports every aspect of your claim. MRI and CT findings document injury severity, support prognosis opinions, and counter defense arguments. Ensuring complete imaging is obtained and properly presented is essential for maximum recovery.