European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: Back pain is a common clinical condition and is a frequent cause of referral for lumbar spine MRI. The use of radiological imaging is crucial for helping to confirm or exclude pathology and, more crucially, for influencing the treatment decision-making process.The purpose of the current study was to assess the use of MRI in individuals with lower back pain.
Material and Methods: The current study involved individuals who had been sent for an MRI and had low back pain as their predominant complaint, either with or without radiculopathy.
Results: 234 patients of low back pain were considered for study. Mean Age was 46.85 ± 16.35 years. Majority cases were from 46-60 (62.39 %) years age group, were Female (53.42 %), had BMI 25–30 kg/m² (47.86 %). Majority cases had radiating pain (sciatica) (71.37 %), pain since >2 Years (44.87 %), Moderate (63.68 %) severity of pain. Associated symptoms were tingling (19.66 %), numbness (25.21 %), pain exaggerated by: lifting heavy objects (38.03 %) & pain exaggerated by walking (26.07 %). Common MRI findings were degenerative changes (56.41 %), neural foraminal narrowing (43.16 %), degenerative spondylolisthesis (28.63 %), disc bulge (23.08 %), abnormal alignment (19.23 %), spondylosis (18.38 %), disc protrusion (12.82 %) & canal stenosis (10.26 %). Conclusion: Disc degeneration and other degenerative changes are the most common abnormalities found in MRI examination.