Wallerian degeneration in cervical spinal cord tracts is commonly seen in routine T2-weighted MRI after traumatic spinal cord injury and is associated with impairment in a retrospective study.

• Wallerian degeneration is commonly seen in routine MRI after traumatic spinal cord injury. • Wallerian degeneration is visible in the anatomical regions of the dorsal column, the lateral corticospinal tract, and the lateral spinothalamic tract. • Presence of Wallerian degeneration is associated with higher degree of impairment.