 Susceptibility artifact from recent surgery limits examination. Postoperative findings consistent with laminectomies T6-T9 and posterior fixation T6-T10. Further, there has been interval decrease in the amount of visualized dorsal epidural fat consistent with resection from the level of T6-T10. As a result, there is improved/decompressed morphology of the thecal sac at the levels of the surgical decompression. However, there has also been a change in contour of thecal sac above and below the levels of surgery with overall decreased CSF circumferentially, especially dorsally. This extends up to the T3-T4 level, and also down to the L1 level. Lipomatous tissue remains more conspicuous laterally at the levels of decompression. Overall, findings result in up to mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis at multiple levels.The thoracic spine demonstrates exaggerated kyphosis. The vertebral body heights are maintained. There remains ventral flowing osteophytes at multiple levels, most evident with ventral osteophyte complex at T8-T9. There is T1 hyperintensity in the disc at T4-T5 and T10-T11, which could be related to mineralization. The small T8-T9 disc bulge is again visualized, however is partially obscured by the hardware artifact.
1. Postoperative appearance of the thoracic spine including T6-T9 laminectomies with posterior spinal fixation of T6-T10. Further there has been central spinal canal decompression with interval removal of dorsal epidural lipomatous tissue at T6-T10.2. Decreased CSF space surrounding the spinal cord thoracic levels other than those affected by the surgery, extending up to T3-T4 and down to L1. This is favored to be secondary to redistribution of CSF due to increased CSF space at levels of surgery, although there is residual mass effect now from lateral epidural fat at these levels. Overall, there is multilevel mild to moderate spinal canal stenosis.