Male, 67 years old, with ataxia, status post surgery, assess for spinal cord compression. Findings are redemonstrated compatible with T7-T12 instrumented posterior fusion with laminectomy from T8 through T10, partial T9 corpectomy, and T9-10 discectomy.Although orthopedic instruments are not well assessed on MRI, they do appear to be in grossly stable position, and there is no evidence of any significant edema within the instrumented vertebral bodies.Since the prior examination, a superficial soft tissue fluid collection running along the operative bed has resolved. No new subcutaneous or epidural collections are suspected. Soft tissue prominence within the laminectomy bed on the prior examination has also resolved, and with it, the spinal canal from T8 through T10 has expanded.There remains some thinning of the spinal cord centered at the T9 level with perhaps mild associated cord T2 hyperintensity compatible with myelomalacia. Elsewhere, no significant cord signal abnormality is seen. Spinal alignment is anatomic. Aside from postoperative findings, no significant marrow signal abnormal is seen.A disc protrusion at T3-4 continues to exert mild mass effect upon the left ventral spinal cord similar to prior. Narrowing of the spinal canal does persist at T11-12 secondary to degenerative disc disease and posterior element hypertrophy.
1.Redemonstration of postoperative findings with no evidence to suggest acute disruption of the orthopedic instruments.2.Since the prior examination, epidural swelling in the T8-T10 laminectomy bed has improved with resultant expansion of the spinal canal.3.A disc protrusion at T3-4 causing mild mass effect upon the spinal cord, and generalized spinal canal narrowing at T11-12 due to disc and posterior element degeneration, have not significant changed. No new areas of spinal canal stenosis or cord compression are seen.