Thoracic spine trauma: advanced imaging modality.

Abstract

Technological advances in diagnostic imaging make the diagnosis of spinal trauma more accurate both in the acute and in the chronic settings. Improvements in medical care and in diagnostic imaging lead to an increasing prevalence of patients' surviving injuries. The management of these patients depends on early and appropriate radiological evaluation in the acute phase. The aim of this work was to review advanced imaging modalities employed to study thoracic spine and spinal cord in injured patients.