CT of the BWSLWS
When a vertebral fracture is diagnosed by means of computed tomography, X-ray images of the vertebral body are taken. The course of the fracture can be determined exactly and thus the key question of the involvement of the posterior edge of the vertebral body can be assessed. If the trailing edge is involved, the fracture is considered unstable and therefore critical to break into the spinal canal. The particular danger here is for the spinal cord with paraplegia.
MRT of the BWSLWS
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not provide any further information for the assessment of bony fractures. The bone cannot be assessed so well in an MRI of the transition from the thoracic spine to the lumbar spine. The soft tissues, on the other hand, can be seen much better than in CT. An MRI of the lumbar spine is reserved for specific questions, e.g. after disc (spinal cord) or soft tissue injuries (muscles, ligaments, etc.).
