By Laura Dyrda
A new study published in the Journal of Spinal Disorder & Techniques examined the effectiveness of MRI in identifying issues for spinal trauma patients.
The researchers recorded intraoperative findings for 21 acute spinal trauma patients and 14 non-traumatic spine surgery patients in a control group. There were preoperative MRIs evaluated randomly and blindly by two neuroradiologists. 
The researchers found:
1. In detecting injury to the anterior longitudinal ligament, the MRI had 100 percent sensitivity and specificity.
2. There was moderate sensitivity — 80 percent — for patients with injury to the posterior longitudinal ligament. But those images were highly specific at 100 percent.