Introduction: Spinal trauma is a major clinical challenge, often leading to significant morbidity and mortality. MRI has become essential in diagnosing spinal injuries due to its superior ability to visualize spinal cord pathologies and surrounding tissues. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between MRI findings and neurological deficits using the ASIA Impairment Scale in patients with spinal trauma.

Method: A hospital-based prospective study was conducted on 50 patients with spinal trauma who underwent MRI within four weeks of injury. Exclusion criteria included patients with contraindications to MRI. All patients underwent full-spine MRI, and clinical assessment was made using the ASIA Impairment Scale. MRI findings, including cord hemorrhage, edema, and epidural hematoma, were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 25.0.

Result: The study cohort included 36 males and 14 females, with the majority aged 21-40 years. The most common MRI findings were cord edema (>3 cm, 34%) and cord hemorrhage (18%). The ASIA Impairment Scale revealed significant improvements in neurological outcomes, with 40% of patients improving to ASIA D and 42% to ASIA E. Cord hemorrhage was significantly associated with poor neurological recovery (p=0.002), while cord edema showed a positive correlation with recovery. Epidural hematoma did not significantly correlate with neurological or sensory improvement.

Conclusion: MRI findings, particularly cord hemorrhage and edema, were significantly correlated with neurological and sensory outcomes in spinal trauma patients. The ASIA Impairment Scale was effective in tracking recovery, highlighting MRI’s role in predicting patient prognosis.