THE PLAIN RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF DEGENERATIVE CHANGES OF LUMBOSACRAL SPINE-CORRELATION WITH MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS

Dr. Tanzila Islam*, Dr. Mehtab Uddin Ahmed, Dr. Ahmed Tariq

ABSTRACT

Background: Back pain caused by degenerative spine disease is one of the most prevalent causes of disability in working-age individuals. Bone (spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis), ligaments (hypertrophy of the spinal ligaments, notably the ligamentum flavum), facet joints (facet hypertrophy, synovial cyst), and intervertebral disc are the elements that may be responsible for the onset of degenerative spine (bulging and herniation). Objective: In this study our main goal is to evaluate the Plain Radiographic Evaluation of Degenerative Changes of Lumbosacral Spine-Correlation with Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings. Method: This cross-sectional study was carried out tertiary medical hospital from June 2021 to June 2022. Where 100 patients with low back pain were included in the study. All Plain X-ray and MRI findings were collected for each patient in a pre-designed structured data collection sheet. Results: during the study, 60% belong to 47-57 years group. According to c between plain X-ray and MRI for prediction of spinal stenosisfrom posterior disc height where MRI diagnosis of spinal stenosis was found in 75%. In addition, according to Correlation between plain X-ray and MRI for prediction of disc herniation from facetalhy pertrophy in plain X-ray facetal hypertrophy was found in 74% cases. Among these 74% cases 63% confirmed disc herniation on MRI. Plus, Correlation between plain X-ray and MRI for prediction of disc herniation from facetalhy pertrophy in plain X-ray facetal hypertrophy was found in 74% cases. Among these 74% cases 63% confirmed disc herniation on MRI. Conclusion: The assessment of disc herniation and nerve root compression by facetal hypertrophy and posterior disc height, respectively, was shown to be virtually perfect in agreement. On the other hand, significant agreement was reported in the detection of spinal stenosis by posterior disc height as assessed by plain X-ray. In contrast, a reasonable agreement was obtained for the prediction of disc herniation by posterior osteophytes examined by plain X-ray. For the study of low back pain, a plain lumbosacral radiograph was sensitive but not specific.

Keywords: plain x-rays. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), back pain.