Can pathoanatomical pathways of degeneration in lumbar motion segments be identified by clustering MRI findings.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the gold standard for detailed visualisation of spinal pathological and degenerative processes, but the prevailing view is that such imaging findings have little or no clinical relevance for low back pain. This is because these findings appear to have little association with treatment effects in clinical populations, and mostly a weak association with the presence of pain in the general population.

Methods

This study is a secondary analysis of data from 631 patients, from an outpatient spine clinic, who had been screened for inclusion in a randomised controlled trial. The available data created a total sample pool of 3,155 vertebral motion segments. The mean age of the cohort was 42 years (SD 10.8, range 18-73) and 54% were wome

SUBMITTER: Jensen RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3706235 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature