Implementing a rapid cord compression Magnetic Resonance Imaging protocol in the emergency department: Lessons learned

Abstract

Background & Purpose (1) Evaluate efficacy of an abbreviated total spine protocol in triaging emergency department (ED) patients through retrospective evaluation. (2) Describe patient outcomes following implementation of a rapid cord compression protocol. Methods (1) All contrast-enhanced total spine magnetic resonance imaging studies (MRIs) performed on ED patients ( n = 75) between 10/1–12/31/2022 for evaluation of cord compression were included. Two readers with 6 and 5 years of experience blindly reviewed the abbreviated protocol (comprised of sagittal T2w and axial T2w sequences) assessing presence of cord compression or severe spinal canal stenosis. Ground truth was consensus by a neuroradiology fellow and 2 attendings. (2) The implemented rapid protocol included sagittal T1w, sagittal T2w Dixon and axial T2w images. All ED patients ( n = 85) who were imaged using the rapid protocol from 5/1–8/31/2023 were included. Patient outcomes and call-back rates were determined through chart review. Results (1) Sensitivity and specificity for severe spinal canal stenosis and/or cord compression was 1.0 and 0.92, respectively, for reader 1 and 0.78 and 0.85, respectively, for reader 2. Negative predictive value was 1.0 and 0.97 for readers 1 and 2, respectively. (2) The implemented rapid cord compression protocol resulted in 60% reduction in imaging time at 1.5T. The call-back rate for additional sequences was 7%. In patients who underwent surgery, no additional MRI images were acquired in 82% of cases (9/11). Conclusions Implementing an abbreviated non-contrast total spine protocol in the ED results in a low call-back rate with acquired MRI images proving sufficient for both triage and treatment planning in most patients.