The patient was then asked to flex the cervical spine, and the head was kept in this position with foam wedges while sagittal and axial T2 acquisitions were repeated. Approximately 40 degrees of flexion was achieved (foramen magnum to T4). The posterior theca displaces anteriorly from C5 to T2, the epidural space filling with engorged epidural venous plexus.
The cord appears bow-strung over the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies and compressed by the aforementioned displaced dura.