Nerve injury classification (MRI)

Changed by Utkarsh Kabra, 8 Aug 2019

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Nerve injury classification describes the various features of nerve injury on MRI with respect to pathological events.

Classification

  • neuropraxia
    • grade I: there is increased T2/STIR signal in the nerve, however the muscle appears normal. Recovery occurs in few days to 3 months.
  • axonotmesis
    • grade II: increased T2/STIR signal in nerve and muscle (pathologically there is myelin and axonal injury but the endoneurium is intact). Full recovery occurs but at a slower rate.
    • grade III: enlargement of nerve fascicles which corresponds pathologically to myelin and axonal injury with involvement of endoneurium but intact perineurium. Recovery is slow and depends on the amount of scarring and fascicular involvement.
    • grade IV: neuroma in continuity, disruption of nerve fascicles results in inability of regenerating nerve to reach distal targets, pathologically there is myelin and axonal injury with involvement of endoneurium and perineurium but epineurium is intact. Spontaneous recovery does not occur and surgical intervention with grafting is required.
  • neurotmesis
    • grade V: complete disruption of continuity of nerve with or without haemorrhage and fibrosis in the gap, the muscle shows hyperintensity but with time atrophies and undergoes fatty replacement. Prognosis is poor and surgical intervention is required.
  • -<strong>grade I:</strong> there is increased T2/STIR signal in the nerve, however the muscle appears normal</li></ul>
  • +<strong>grade I:</strong> there is increased T2/STIR signal in the nerve, however the muscle appears normal. Recovery occurs in few days to 3 months.</li></ul>
  • -<strong>grade II:</strong> increased T2/STIR signal in nerve and muscle (pathologically there is myelin and axonal injury but the endoneurium is intact) </li>
  • +<strong>grade II:</strong> increased T2/STIR signal in nerve and muscle (pathologically there is myelin and axonal injury but the endoneurium is intact). Full recovery occurs but at a slower rate.</li>
  • -<strong>grade III:</strong> enlargement of nerve fascicles which corresponds pathologically to myelin and axonal injury with involvement of endoneurium but intact perineurium</li>
  • +<strong>grade III:</strong> enlargement of nerve fascicles which corresponds pathologically to myelin and axonal injury with involvement of endoneurium but intact perineurium. Recovery is slow and depends on the amount of scarring and fascicular involvement.</li>
  • -<strong>grade IV:</strong> <a href="/articles/traumatic-neuroma">neuroma in continuity</a>, disruption of nerve fascicles results in inability of regenerating nerve to reach distal targets, pathologically there is myelin and axonal injury with involvement of endoneurium and perineurium but epineurium is intact</li>
  • +<strong>grade IV:</strong> <a href="/articles/traumatic-neuroma">neuroma in continuity</a>, disruption of nerve fascicles results in inability of regenerating nerve to reach distal targets, pathologically there is myelin and axonal injury with involvement of endoneurium and perineurium but epineurium is intact. Spontaneous recovery does not occur and surgical intervention with grafting is required.</li>
  • -<strong>grade V:</strong> complete disruption of continuity of nerve with or without haemorrhage and fibrosis in the gap, the muscle shows hyperintensity but with time atrophies and undergoes fatty replacement</li></ul>
  • +<strong>grade V:</strong> complete disruption of continuity of nerve with or without haemorrhage and fibrosis in the gap, the muscle shows hyperintensity but with time atrophies and undergoes fatty replacement. Prognosis is poor and surgical intervention is required.</li></ul>

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