Figure 3. Correlation between brain MRI changes at 6 months and 2-year clinical outcome (t values uncorrected p < 0.001, shown for descriptive purposes, masked by the union of the regions of interest).

Better lower extremity motor score (Lems) (yellow) at 2 years was associated with greater volume (brainstem) and a smaller decrease in MT (sensorimotor cortex) over 6 months. Better functional independence score (Scim) (red) was associated with a smaller decrease in MT in the somatosensory cortex, bilaterally. A worse pinprick (PP) (blue) score at 2 years was associated with increases in R2* in the right cerebellum and right ACC over 6 months. Greater increases in neuropathic pain intensity score (green) was associated with greater R2* increases in the right secondary sensory cortex, in left ACC, and the cerebellum, bilaterally over 6 months. Note that not all clusters are shown, but are presented in Table e-1. ACC = anterior cingulate cortex; MT = magnetization transfer saturation; R2* = effective transverse relaxation rate; SCIM = Spinal Cord Independence Measure.