Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Inadequate to Assess Cervical Sagittal Alignment Parameters

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective radiographic study. Objective: To evaluate cervical sagittal alignment measurement reliability and correlation between upright radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Summary of Background Data: Cervical sagittal alignment (CSA) helps determine the surgical technique employed to treat cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Traditionally, upright lateral radiographs are used to measure CSA, but obtaining adequate imaging can be challenging. Utilizing MRI to evaluate sagittal parameters has been explored; however, the impact of positional change on these parameters has not been determined. Methods: One hundred seventeen adult patients were identified who underwent laminoplasty or laminectomy and fusion for cervical spondylotic myelopathy from 2017 to 2019. Two clinicians independently measured the C2–C7 sagittal angle, C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), and the T1 tilt. Interobserver and intraobserver reliability were assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: Intraobserver and interobserver reliabilities were highly correlated, with correlations greater than 0.85 across all permutations; intraclass correlation coefficients were highest with MRI measurements. The C2–C7 sagittal angle was highly correlated between x-ray and MRI at 0.76 with no significant difference (P=0.46). There was a weaker correlation with regard to C2–C7 SVA (0.48) and T1 tilt (0.62) with significant differences observed in the mean values between the 2 modalities (P<0.01). Conclusions: The C2–C7 sagittal angle is highly correlated and not significantly different between upright x-ray and supine MRIs. However, cervical SVA and T1 tilt change with patient position. Since MRI does not accurately reflect the CSA in the upright position, upright lateral radiographs should be obtained to assess global sagittal alignment when planning a posterior-based cervical procedure.