Degenerative changes in Lumbar spine on MRI: A retrospective study

Abstract

Introduction: The widespread prevalence of patients complaining of backache has resulted in Spine as the most frequently requested neuroimaging examinations. Various imaging modalities like X-ray, myelography, discography and CT scan have been used to study the cause of backache in the past. However with the advent of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), revolutionary changes have occurred in the study and management of degenerative spinal diseases due to its superior soft tissue contrast resolution and its ability to define the anatomy, underlying pathophysiology and biomechanics of degenerative disc disease. Method: The present study is a MRI based retrospective study, conducted on 100 patients of lower backache segregated on the basis of age and level of lumbar spine involvement. Result: MRI findings suggested that maximum number of patients with complaint of lower backache refererred for MRI belonged to 40-60 years age group with most earliest and most frequent degenerative changes found to be in the intervertebral disc with maximum affection at L4-5 level followed by L5-S1 level. Conclusion: MRI has emerged as a non invasive multiplanar imaging modality with a superior soft tissue contrast resolution which can better define degenerative changes in the spine. In our study the earliest and most frequent degenerative changes were found to be in the intervertebral disc with maximum affection at L4-5 level.