Abstract

Background: Low back pain is the most common cause of pain and disability in modern society, and costs related to disorders that cause LBP amount to billions of dollars each year. MRI is considered the gold standard in determining the etiology of low back and radicular pain. Aim: To identify the relation between lumbosacral MRI findings and the causes of current low back pain (If associated with radicular symptoms). Patient and method: A cross sectional descriptive study of 100 patients complained of non-traumatic low back pain with lumbosacral MRI were referred from Rheumatology clinic, Full history of pain was taken. Pain assessed by Numerical rating scale. Scans were read by 2 senior radiologists. Result: 85% of patients had disc prolapse, 2% had only Facet joint hypertrophy, 13% with normal Lumbosacral MRI. 82% of patient with radiated pain (92.7% had disc prolapse, 7.3% had normal Lumbosacral MRI). there is significant relation between MRI findings and radiation, no significant relation between pain severity and MRI findings. Mean BMI was 29. Conclusion: Disc bulge and herniation are the common cause of non-traumatic pain in our society, over weight is one of the major risk factors. There are other causes for low back pain that can be diagnosed by history and physical examination rather than MRI

Keywords

MRI, low back pain, disc prolapse, pain radiation