Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing lumbar spinal pathology in adult patients with low back pain or sciatica: a diagnostic systematic review

Purpose  

In about 5% of all cases LBP is associated with serious underlying pathology requiring diagnostic confirmation and directed treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often used for this diagnostic purpose yet its role remains controversial. Consequently, this review aimed to summarize the available evidence on the diagnostic accuracy of MRI for identifying lumbar spinal pathology in adult low back pain (LPB) or sciatica patients.     

Frequency of complications of manipulation of the spine

Summary A survey of all members of the Swiss Medical Association of Manual Medicine was undertaken for the year 1989. Informative data were given by 425 respondents on the frequency of complications of manipulation as related to the spine. The number of thoraco-lumbar manipulations during 1989 (225 working days) was 805 for each respondent, and the number manipulations of the cervical spine 354. Thus, the total number of thoraco-lumbar manipulations was 342 125, and the total number of cervical manipulations was 150 450. The overall incidence of side-effects of transient complications due to cervical spine manipulation such as disturbance of consciousness or radicular signs was 1: 16716. Seventeen patients (ratio 1: 20 125) after manipulation of the lumbar spine presented, in addition to increased pain, a transient sensorimotor deficit with precise radicular distribution. Nine of the 17 patients (ratio 1: 38013) developed a progressive radicular syndrome with sensorimotor defict and radiologically verified disc herniation and had to be referred for surgery. Side effects and complications of cervical and lumbar spine manipulation are rare. Taking in to account the yearly number of manipulations performed by a single physician in Switzerland and the rate of complications, it can be calculated that a physician practicing manual medicine will encoutner one complication due to manipulation of the cervical spine in 47 years and one complication due to lumbar spine manipulation in 38 years of practice. However, it is important that a careful clinical assessment is carried out to avoid complications due to manipulation carried out on the basis of inappropriate indications. Furthermore, the decision as to which technique is indicated for any particular functional disorder of the spine should be made on the basis of rational criteria resting on a knowledge of clinical biomechanics, functional anatomy and neurophysiology. The authors recommend a prospective morbidity study to be carried out among physicians, chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists, taking into account the different indications and therapeutic techniques in relation to complications.     

后路椎间盘切除椎体融合治疗椎间盘源性下腰痛

目的：观察后路腰椎间盘切除椎体融合治疗椎间盘源性下腰痛的近期疗效。方法：将经临床检查和推间盘造影确诊为椎间盘内紊乱的２７例患者分为两者,一组行椎板开窗间盘切除椎体间Ｃａｇｅ内植骨术（Ｃａｇｅ组）,另一组行椎板开窗间盘切除椎体间植骨经椎弓根内固定术（ＰＳＦ组）,术后随访２～３年,观察患者腰痛改善和腰椎融合情况。结果：腰痛改善率：术后第１年Ｃａｇｅ组为８９％,ＰＳＦ组为９１％,术后第２年Ｃａｇｅ组为９３％,ＰＳＦ组为９４％,腰椎融合率：术后第１年Ｃａｇｅ组为９２％、ＰＳＦ组为９３％,随访期内两组各有１例未融合。结论：后路椎间盘切除椎体间Ｃａｇｅ内植骨或椎间盘切除椎体间植骨经椎弓根内固定治疗椎间盘源性下腰前,近期疗效满意。     

Is focused magnetic resonance imaging adequate for treatment decision making in acute traumatic thoracic and lumbar spine fractures seen on whole spine computed tomography?

PURPOSE

To assess whether a focused magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) limited to the region of known acute traumatic thoracic or lumbar fracture(s) would miss any clinically significant injuries that would change patient management.

Movement coordination of the lumbar spine and hip during a picking up activity in low back pain subjects

The effect of low back pain, with or without nerve root signs, on the joint coordination and kinematics of the lumbar spine and hips during everyday activities, such as picking up an object from the floor, are largely unknown. An experimental study was designed to compare lumbar spine and hip joint kinematics and coordination in subjects with and without sub-acute low back pain, while picking up an object in a sitting position. A three-dimensional real-time electromagnetic tracking device was used to measure movements of the lumbar spine and hips. Sixty participants with subacute low back pain, with or without straight leg raise signs, and twenty healthy asymptomatic participants were recruited. The ranges of motions of lumbar spine and hips were determined. Movement coordination between the two regions was examined by cross-correlation. Results showed that mobility was significantly reduced in subjects with back pain, who compensated for limited motion through various strategies. The contribution of the lumbar spine relative to that of the hip was, however, found to be similar in all groups. The lumbar spine–hip joint coordination was substantially altered in subjects with back pain, in particular, those with a positive straight leg raise sign. We conclude that changes in the lumbar and hip kinematics were related to back pain and limitation in straight leg raise. Lumbar–hip coordination was mainly affected by the presence of positive straight leg raise sign when picking up an object in a sitting position.     

Magnetic resonance imaging showed no signs of overuse or permanent injury to the lumbar sacral spine during a Special Forces training course

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Special Forces training is even more demanding than that of elite athletes. The training includes grueling physical activity and periods of sleep deprivation. The soldiers routinely carry heavy loads up to 40% of their body weight on their backs while running and marching for distances up to 90 km. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to find out if Special Forces recruits are able to complete the preparatory Navy Seals training program without sustaining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs of overuse or irreversible injury to their backs. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Prospective cohort study. We performed MRI scans before and after 14 weeks of Navy Seals preparatory training course. PATIENT SAMPLE: Ten soldiers underwent MRI of their lumbar sacral spines and right knees before and after the completion of Navy Seals preparatory training. OUTCOME MEASURES: Physiologic measures. Lumbar sacral spine and knee MRI tests were performed before and after the training to identify changes in the spinal discs, facet joints, pars interarticularis, vertebral bodies, knee articular cartilage, ligaments, knee menisci, and the presence or absence of soft tissue and/or bone edema. METHODS: We investigated the difference in spine and knee pathology before and after a 14-week Navy Seals preparatory training course by using MRI criteria. The recruits participating in the study were monitored for acute and overuse injuries every 3 to 4 weeks. RESULTS: Before the training, seven out of ten spine MRI scans were normal. Two showed small L5-S1 disc bulges, one of them with concomitant Scheuermann's disease. Another soldier's MRI showed L1-L4 mild Scheuermann's disease. Follow-up MRI showed no spinal changes. Before the training, one knee had a small lateral femoral condyle cartilage lesion. Nine of ten knees had prepatellar swelling, five had increased joint fluid, and two bone edema. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging showed improvement in the prepatellar swelling in eight soldiers, no change in one soldier, and increased knee effusion and a new medial femoral condyle bone edema in another. The lateral femoral condyle lesion remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: According to MRI criteria, the soldiers in this study completed the 14-week training, which involved loading of their spines far beyond the levels recommended by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health without sustaining irreversible damage to their spines or knees. Although the subjects' knees showed signs of overuse injury, their backs did not.     

下腰痛患者MRI纤维环高信号区的病理特点及其临床意义

目的：探讨腰椎MRI纤维环高信号区（high—intensity zone，HIZ）的病理形态学变化及其对下腰痛疾病的临床意义。方法：观察经手术治疗的101例（103个椎间盘）下腰痛患者术前腰椎MRI T2WI，发现36例（36个椎间盘）纤维环后部高信号区（HIZ），65例（67个椎间盘）纤维环后部无高信号。手术取病变椎间盘后外侧纤维环，HE染色后进行病理形态学观察，并与正常对照组进行比较。结果：病理形态学检查结果显示下腰痛组纤维环层明显变薄，胶原纤维细胞少，排列不规则，分布不均匀。其中，高信号区（HIZ）组除一般表现外尚发现具特征性的三类变化：①纤维环中出现自内向外的血管腔隙样变化（血管腔内有或无红细胞），伴炎性细胞主要是淋巴细胞的浸润，并且有胶原纤维细胞的大量增生。②纤维环中增生的胶原纤维排列紊乱，肿胀明显，形成结节样团状结构。③纤维环中出现退变和增生并存的软骨样细胞，周围水肿，无淋巴细胞浸润。此3种病理变化经计数资料的x^2检验与无高信号区组（非HIZ组）比较差异有显著性意义。比较HIZ组和非HIZ组的临床表现发现：HIZ组L4/5节段常见；腿痛多限于大腿部；感觉、运动、反射改变和直腿抬高试验均较非HIZ组不典型。结论：腰椎MRI T2WI纤维环出现的高信号区（HIZ）是椎间盘内部结构病理改变在影像学上的一种较具有特异性的表现；有HIZ表现的下腰痛是一类具有自身特点的腰痛类疾病。     

Italian version of the Roland Disability Questionnaire,specific for low back pain: cross-cultural adaptation and validation

Over the last 10 years, patient-oriented evaluations using questionnaires have become an important aspect of clinical spinal outcome studies. Any questionnaire must be translated and culturally adapted in order to be used with different language groups, and the translated version must then be evaluated for reliability and validity, which are fundamental attributes of any measurement tool. The Roland Disability Questionnaire, a low back pain disease-specific tool, was submitted to translation into Italian and to cross-cultural adaptation following the Guillemin criteria. It was then validated on 70 patients (37 male and 33 female; mean age 58, range: 28-67) suffering from low back pain as assessed by clinical examination, imaging and also electromyography in cases of suspected neurological impairment. The test-retest reliability, assessed with intraclass correlation, was 0.92 and the internal consistency reached a Cronbach's alpha of 0.82. The Italian version of the Roland Disability Questionnaire satisfied the validation criteria, showing characteristics of reliability and validity similar to previously published versions translated and adapted for other countries.     

腰椎间盘MRI高信号区的组织病理学特点和临床意义

目的研究椎间盘源性下腰痛患者腰椎间盘纤维环后方MRI高信号区的组织病理学特征及其临床意义。方法对52例经保守治疗无效、CT片显示无腰椎间盘突出的下腰痛患者行腰椎MR检查及腰椎间盘造影术。男39例,女13例;平均年龄38.8岁。选择纤维环后方出现高信号区的部分病例行腰椎后路椎间盘切除、椎体间融合、椎弓根螺钉内固定术,术中收集包括高信号区部位的椎间盘。对标本行矢状面连续组织学切片,光镜下观察高信号区椎间盘组织的组织病理学结构,并分析其临床意义。结果在行腰椎间盘造影的52例142个椎间盘中,17例17个椎间盘显示高信号区,且在椎间盘造影过程中全部呈现2或3级的纤维环破裂和疼痛复制反应。敏感性和特异性均为100%。高信号区与纤维环破裂程度分级呈正相关,说明纤维环破裂程度分级越高,越易出现高信号区(R=0.462,P<0.01)。共收集11例患者11个椎间盘,组织学研究发现对应高信号区的椎间盘组织表现为沿纤维环裂隙形成的不同程度的血管化肉芽组织,有成熟的瘢痕化胶原组织。结论症状性下腰痛患者的腰椎MRI上有椎间盘高信号区,可以作为椎间盘源性下腰痛诊断的重要征象。     

理疗床治疗脊柱源性腰腿痛的病例对照临床研究

目的:应用物理疗法治疗脊柱源性腰腿痛,观察治疗前后症状体征的改善情况。方法:237例受试者随机分为治疗组和对照组。治疗组119例,男24例,女95例;平均年龄53.85岁。对照组118例,男20例,女98例;平均年龄54.00岁。治疗组采用温热理疗床治疗,对照组采用场效应治疗仪配合无针针灸按摩仪治疗,2组均接受8个疗程治疗,每个疗程7d,期间休息1d。分别在筛选期(治疗前)及治疗后第18、36、48d(治疗结束时)各观察记录1次,比较两组治疗前后脊柱两侧软组织压痛、胸腰段屈曲度及腰腿痛症状改善情况。结果:治疗组与对照组在治疗后腰腿痛症状、脊柱两侧软组织压痛及胸腰段屈曲度均有改善(P<0.05)。两组比较,治疗后治疗组上述症状与体征的改善优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:采用物理疗法,恢复脊柱周围软组织生理平衡能有效治疗脊柱源性腰腿痛。     

Onyiuke Grading Scale: A clinical classification system for the diagnosis and management of Bertolotti syndrome

BackgroundLumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LSTV) is a common anatomic variant of the spine, characterized by the formation of a pseudoarticulation between the transverse process of the lumbar vertebrae and sacrum or ilium. LSTVs have been implicated as a potential source of low back pain – dubbed Bertolotti syndrome. Traditionally, LSTVs have only been subdivided into types I–IV based on the Castellvi radiographic classification system.ObjectiveSolely identifying the type of LSTV radiographically provides no clinical relevance to the treatment of Bertolotti syndrome. Here, we seek to analyze such patients and identify a clinical grading scale and diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm to optimize care for patients with this congenital anomaly.MethodsPatients presenting with back pain between 2011 and 2018 attributable to a lumbosacral transitional vertebra were identified retrospectively. Data was collected from these patients’ charts regarding demographic information, clinical presentation, diagnostic imaging, treatment and outcomes. Based on evaluation of these cases and review of the literature, a diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm is proposed.ResultsBased on our experiences evaluating and treating these patients and review of the existing literature, we propose a clinical classification system for Bertolotti syndrome: we proposed a 4-grade scale for patients with Bertolotti syndrome based upon location, severity, and characteristics of pain experienced due to LSTVs.ConclusionBased on our experience with the cases illustrated here, we recommend managing patients with LSTV based on our diagnostic-therapeutic algorithm. Moving forward, a larger prospective study with a larger patient cohort is needed to further validate the treatment paradigm.     

Factors determining the success of radiofrequency denervation in lumbar facet joint pain: a prospective study

Background and aims  

Radiofrequency denervation (RF) of the lumbar facet joints has been shown to be effective in well-selected patients. However, long-term success varies between studies. We evaluated the influence of selected psychosocial and constitutional factors on the outcome of RF, expressed as the duration of pain relief.     

Both positive and negative beliefs are important in patients with spine pain: findings from the Occupational and Industrial Orthopaedic Center registry

Background Context

Negative beliefs are known to influence treatment outcome in patients with spine pain (SP). The impact of positive beliefs is less clear.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the extremities. A critical appraisal of utilization by an orthopaedic service

Summary Objective: To assess the utilization of MRI by the orthopaedic department of a University Teaching Hospital for the investigation of musculoskeletal conditions affecting the extremities.Design: During a 12 month period, all patients referred for MRI of an extremity were enrolled in the study. Clinical details of presentation, surgical management and outcome were prospectively recorded.Patients: 91 patients were included with a mean age of 35 years. The following anatomical areas were scanned; knee (48), shoulder (31), hip (3), soft tissues (6), brachial plexus (2), wrist (1).Results: A significant finding was reported in 56 patients (62%) and surgery was undertaken in 42. With regard to MRI of the knee the sensitivity of the investigation was 95%. Four patients were referred inappropriately for the investigation.Conclusions: Selective referral for MRI for the investigation of the injured knee represents an appropriate use of this scarce resource. It allows arthroscopy to be targetted to those patients in whom the procedure will be therapeutic. Unnecessary diagnostic knee arthroscopy can and should be avoided. The study supports increased orthopaedic access to MRI for non spinal conditions in the future.     

Tomoscintigraphy of the lumbar spine: Prospects and clinical application

Summary In an in vivo prospective study, we examined the lumbar spine of 18 patients presenting with a first episode of acute low-back pain with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Scintigraphic activity at L2 was considered 100%, and the other levels were quantified in relation to L2. MRI scans were rated for disc signal intensity on T2-weighted images. The results show that an abnormal intervertebral MRI signal corresponds with an abnormal image on tomoscintigraphy. On tomoscintographic profiles, the disappearance of the discal dip corresponds well with degeneration on MRI. Furthermore, a positive MRI at one level appears to influence other levels at which a significantly higher scintigraphic activity was observed. Of patients with acute LBP 50% had a normal disc SPECT; it is concluded that in these cases a non-discal origin for the pain must be sought.Read at the annual meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Marseilles, 1993     

Yoga and disc degenerative disease in cervical and lumbar spine: an MR imaging-based case control study

The objective of the current study was to find out whether yoga practice was beneficial to the spine by comparing degenerative disc disease in the spines of long-time yoga practitioners and non-yoga practicing controls, using an objective measurement tool, magnetic resonance imaging. This matched case–control study comprised 18 yoga instructors with teaching experience of more than 10 years and 18 non-yoga practicing asymptomatic individuals randomly selected from a health checkup database. A validated grading scale was used to grade the condition of cervical and lumbar discs seen in magnetic resonance imaging of the spine, and the resulting data analyzed statistically. The mean number of years of yoga practice for the yoga group was 12.9 ± 7.5. The overall (cervical + lumbar) disc scores of the yoga group were significantly lower (indicating less degenerative disc disease) than those of the control group (P < 0.001). The scores for the cervical vertebral discs of the yoga group were also significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.001), while the lower scores for the yoga group in the lumbar group approached, but did not reach, statistical significance (P = 0.055). The scores for individual discs of yoga practitioners showed significantly less degenerative disease at three disc levels, C3/C4, L2/L3 and L3/L4 (P < 0.05). Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the group of long-term practitioners of yoga studied had significantly less degenerative disc disease than a matched control group.