The Use of MRI in Treatment of Back Pain | MRI
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MRI The Use of MRI in Treatment of Back Pain

The Use of MRI in Treatment of Back Pain

Radiology News


A recent article in the Journal of the American Journal of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS) suggest that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) will become an increasingly important diagnostic tool for orthpaedic doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic back pain. The article in JAAOS suggests that the variety of possible reasons for spinal pain make MRI an ideal tool for identifying possible causes for pain. While MRI is generally widely used, MRI is not widely used within orthopaedics where Xrays are more widely used for the diagnosis of bone injuries.

The article goes on to state that MRI images are produced by the energy released when the protons in the tissues and body fluids are stimulated by radiofrequency waves in a magnetic field. MRI can help in the visualisation of the intervertebral spaces, the spinal canal and the surrounding soft tissues in detail. The article lists diagnose specific causes of chronic back pain as including:

  • intervertebral disc and facet degeneration.
  • spinal canal stenosis
  • vascular disorders
  • trauma
  • tumor

Another advantage of MRI mentioned in the article is the lesser radiation exposure when compared to the other effective imaging technique, the Computed Tomography, but the decision for imaging should always be after a detailed history and physical examination as many cases can be functional. Also there maybe abnormalities in the MRI that can be clinically insignificant.

Significance

  • Many cases of back pain are mismanaged or managed with symptomatically with analgesics
  • Could enable doctors to pinpoint the exact causes of back pain without recourse to surgery
  • Failed treatment for back pain is common and the cost of continuous management is high both financially and in terms of patient quality of life
  • Use of imaging technologies and advances in technique could reduce treatment failure rates and enable faster treatment


Potential Benefits

  • Reduce treatment failure rates through more targeted treatment planning
  • Improve patient quality of life and speed up return to work
  • Reduce clinical work load by reducing the ongoing management of patients returning for treatment


Source
http://www6.aaos.org/news/Pemr/releases/release.cfm?releasenum=733

 

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