Radiographic findings in non specific low back pain

Abstract

Introduction: About 40% of people have low back pain (LBP) at some point in their lives. Non specific LBP where precise pathoanatomical diagnosis cannot be given comprises almost 85% of patients with isolated low back pain. Lumbosacral radiograph is preferred by most of the physicians for the initial assessment of the LBP. It is therefore crucial to evaluate patients with LBP and assess for possible relationship between low back pain and patient characteristics.

Methods: In the study, lumbosacral radiographs of 200 patients with nonspecific LBP coming to Radiology department of T.U. Teaching Hospital were reviewed between July to September 2014. The findings were classified under various categories, tabulated in the Proforma and data were analyzed using SPSS software system.

Results: Among total of 200 patients, 45% (90) were male and 55% (110) were female. The study included patients of different age ranging from 13 to 92 years with highest number in 30-3 and 40-49 age groups accounting for each 23% of total population. Lumbar spondylosis, normal radiographs and loss of lumbar lordosis were the most common three findings comprising 105 (52.5%), 55 (27.2%) and 24 (12%) of radiographs respectively. Lumber spondylosis was the most common finding after the age of 30 years with highest in the age group of 60-69 years comprising 93.8 % (15) of radiographs in that age group. Most of the radiographs of younger patients below 30 years of age were normal.

Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the occurrence of lumber spondylosis was the highest among the radiographs of patients with low back pain. The loss of lordosis and disk degeneration was also significant factors associated with low back pain.