Role of MRI in Evaluation of Non-Traumatic Causes of Low Backache

Abstract

Background: Low back pain is a pervading problem that affects two thirds of adults at some time in their lives. The causes of low back ache are multiple including abnormalities of the lumbosacral spine or those related to the soft tissue surrounding the lumbosacral spine. Radiological imaging plays a key role in aiding to establish or rule out pathological conditions and most importantly to influence the therapeutic decision-making process. Materials & Methods:The study was a prospective cross-sectional study which included 150 (based on available literature, with a confidence interval of 95% and an alpha error of 5%) consecutive patients who underwent MR and X ray imaging in King George Hospital for non-traumatic causes of low back ache over a period of 14 months from December 2017 to January 2019. Results: The mean age of the patients included in the study was 39.5 years. The male to female ratio was 1.38:1. The Main chief complaint is low back ache (83%). Most common region involved is L4-L5 (81%). Most common x-ray finding is spondylolisthesis (45%). Multiple disc involvement is seen in 84% of cases on MRI. Conclusion:The commonest age group affected by low back ache is 20-50-year. Plain radiography has a low sensitivity in detection of serious pathologies of the spine such as osteomyelitis and primary or secondary neoplasms. Magnetic resonance imaging serves as a non-invasive and highly sensitive method for evaluating the spine in the presence of low back pain.