CORRELATION BETWEEN CLINICAL FEATURES AND MAGNATIC RESONANCE IMAGING FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION

Abstract

Introduction:

Low back pain (LBP) is a common condition affecting 60-80% of adults during their lifetime, with a significant portion experiencing lumbar disc prolapse, particularly in the L4-L5 and L5-S1 regions. Risk factors include a sedentary lifestyle, frequent driving, chronic cough, pregnancy, smoking, and heavy lifting. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for diagnosing degenerative disc diseases and their impact on neural structures.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to find out the correlation between clinical features and MRI findings in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, over 4 months. Convenient sampling was used, including patients aged 18-80 years with MRI-confirmed L4/5 and/or L5/S1 intervertebral disc prolapse. Patients with osseous causes, bony canal stenosis, previous discectomy, epidural steroid injections, spine infections, or tumors were excluded. MRI scans were reviewed by two radiologists. Clinical assessments were correlated with MRI findings.

Results:

All patients presented with back pain, with an average duration of 37.37 ± 15.5 weeks. The study found significant correlations between MRI findings and clinical features. The most common  herniation were L5 and S1. The Straight Leg Raising Test (SLRT) was positive in 83.8% of patients, aligning with other studies. MRI findings frequently showed disc protrusion 64.4% and Extrusion 34.6%, LDH is more common in males as compared to female,correlating with the severity of clinical symptoms.

Conclusion:

There is a statistically significant correlation between clinical features and MRI findings in patients with lumbar disc herniation. MRI is a valuable diagnostic tool for assessing the extent of disc disease and its impact on patients' symptoms.