IMPORTANT INFO for all patients with Craniocervical Instability (CCI) – please post it online and on Facebook
Points #2 and #7 are the MOST important of all.1. When they do the flex/ext MRI, the techs usually tell the patients to flex the neck in a way which puts the stress on the mid-lower cervical spine, to check for dynamically herniated disks; this position is not helpful for CCI patients and does not add anything to the regular supine study.
2. If the focus of the study is the craniocervical junction, the correct way to flex is by TOUCHING THE CHIN ON THE CHEST.
3. If the symptoms flare up in the chin/chest position, hanging in tough is worth it, because the surgeon will get the pic with the “smoking gun”
4. MRI upright machines have smaller magnets than regular machines, thus leading to pictures with far less details
5. Upright MRI machines can visualize the effect of gravity on the craniocervical junction (besides and in addition to flexion and extension, which are a horizontal issue)
6. Flexion/extension studies can be done on regular machines with the help of sandbags;
flexion = sandbag behind the occiput, chin touching the chest;
extension = sandbag behind the shoulders7. Flex/ext MRI studies MUST be in sagittal views and T2 sequences.
Excellent information, thank you so much, Barbara! And for the article posted just below this. Very helpful. ~Worried Mama Bear