Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role in detecting and evaluating spinal trauma. Bone marrow edema due to subtile fractures, soft-tissue and spinal cord lesions, which may not be apparent on other imaging modalities, can be detected with MRI. Early detection often leads to prompt and accurate diagnosis and management, as well as avoidance of unnecessary procedures.

Advantages of MRI such as the choice of various pulse sequences and higher contrast resolution make possible to diagnose the consecuences of spinal trauma more accurately.

With MRI surgeons can get crucial informations critical for making decisions about surgical interventions. With MRI intra- or extraspinal, intra- or extra dural and intra- or extramedullary injuries  can be detect and evaluate.

In cases of spinal cord edema, contusion, hemorrhage and ischemia, MRI findings may serve as prognostic indicators.

With the help of MRI we were able to correlate imaging findings in spinal trauma with clinical neurological examination findings according to ASIA Impairment Scale.