MRI findings not closely associated in study with LBP, radicular symptom outcomes

There are few longitudinal associations between incident lumbar spine MRI findings and chronic low back pain or radicular symptoms, according to a study.

“This study demonstrates that even when applying more specific definitions for spine-related symptom outcomes, few MRI findings show large magnitude associations with symptom outcomes. The longitudinal association of annular fissures with LBP [low back pain], and the association of disc extrusions and nerve root impingement with radicular symptoms, require confirmation in studies with comparable longitudinal designs,” Pradeep Suri, MD, and colleagues wrote in the study.

Researchers reviewed results of the Longitudinal Assessment of Imaging and Disability of the Back study. In the secondary analysis of the study, Suri and colleagues wrote, the researchers analyzed 123 study participants without current LBP or sciatica and administered standardized MRI assessments of the lumbar spine at baseline and three years later. They collected information on participant-reported spine-related symptoms and signs every 4 months for the three years of the study.

Suri and colleagues noted three large magnitude effects related to symptoms were found in the analysis they did of primary MRI predictors of interest which corresponded with expectations. Those were an association of incident anular fissures with chronic LBP, and the association of disc extrusions and of nerve root impingement with radicular symptoms.

Even after the investigators applied more specific definitions for spine-related symptom outcomes, few MRI findings showed large magnitude associations with symptom outcomes, according to the findings.

“Although our findings did not detect multiple large magnitude and statistically significant associations between incident MRI findings and incident LBP or sciatica, they should not be taken to suggest that research studies of imaging for LBP are not a vital area for future research,” Suri and colleagues wrote. – by Robert Linnehan

Reference:

Salim Hayek. Paper #272. Presented at: World Institute of Pain Congress; May 7-10, 2014; Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Disclosure: Jarvik is a member of the GE Healthcare Advisory Board for Comparative Effectiveness and a consultant for HealthHelp, a Radiology Benefits Management company. He is a faculty member at the Radiological Society of North America Clinical Trials Workshop.

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Source:

Suri P. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2014;doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-152