7 Tesla MRI Evaluation of the Spine

July 14, 2026 updated by: Reto Sutter, MD

High-resolution MRI (7 Tesla) of the spine is capable to differentiate osseous spurs from discus-material and better depict the compressed nerve in the neuroforamen compared to 3T MRI.

Provide the surgeon with a detailed high-resolution anatomical image before surgery and potential no need for CT (if the bony anatomy is of crucial importance).

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

600

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Switzerland
    • Canton of Zurich
      • Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, 8008

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients who have undergone a MRI of the spine for clinical indications will be enrolled through consecutive ongoing recruitment in daily clinical practice at Balgrist University Hospital Zurich.

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Informed consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form)
  • >18 years old
  • Patients presenting chronic back pain (> 2 months) without recent trauma, previous MRI (1,5 or 3T) for clinicals indications or asymptomatic individuals (for depicting normal microanatomy)

Exclusion criteria:

  • previous surgery
  • tumor patients
  • pregnancy or breast feeding
  • any MRI contra-indications

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
differentiation of compressed nerves in neuroforamen (7T vs 3T)
Time Frame: 2 years
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Reto Sutter, MD

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

March 4, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 19, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 19, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

June 22, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • R448

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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