Cervical Spine Orthopedics I Practice Exam

Which imaging modality is used to check for cord or nerve root compression?

X-ray MRI CT Ultrasound

Correct Answer:

MRI

Explanation:

The key idea is using an imaging study that directly visualizes neural structures within the spinal canal. MRI provides superior soft-tissue contrast, allowing clear visualization of the spinal cord, nerve roots, intervertebral discs, and surrounding ligaments. This makes it highly sensitive for detecting compression from herniated discs, foraminal stenosis, or other soft-tissue pathology, as well as any associated cord signal changes (myelopathy). X-ray mainly shows bone alignment and can't reveal neural elements. CT excels at bone detail but has limited soft-tissue resolution for neural structures. Ultrasound isn’t practical for evaluating the spinal canal. So MRI is the imaging modality of choice for assessing cord or nerve root compression.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to Cervical Spine Orthopedics I Practice Exam for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions