Making sense of MRI of the lumbar spine

With improved accessibility and increasing use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate low back pain, general practitioners are exposed to a set of recommended terminology used among the various specialties involved in lumbar spinal conditions.

This article aims to illustrate these descriptive terms, the various lumbar spinal pathology and its clinical implications regarding management.

MRI may be useful in specific clinical situations in lumbar back pain, however, the importance of a thorough clinical assessment cannot be overstated. An understanding of the benefits and limitations of MRI in evaluating lumbar back pain and improved communiction between healthcare providers, should allow for optimal management of the patient's radiologically matched clinical issues.