Factors Associated with Radiological Examination of Patients with Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Radiology
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent.
• Overuse of radiological imaging for LBP contradicts clinical guidelines.
• Guidelines recommend imaging only for suspected serious pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate factors influencing radiological imaging use in non-specific LBP patients.
• Identify demographic, clinical, and physiotherapy-related predictors of imaging.
• Analyze associations between LBP characteristics and imaging referrals.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study of 179 non-specific LBP patients in Saudi Arabia.
• Data extracted from electronic health records, including demographics, clinical details, physiotherapy, and imaging.
• Multiple linear regression analysis to determine imaging predictors.

Main Results:

• 88.8% of patients underwent radiological imaging, with 48.0% receiving multiple modalities.
• Significant predictors included gender, higher BMI, physiotherapist experience, and comorbidities.
• Medication use for LBP was negatively associated with imaging; physiotherapy engagement and pain outcomes had no significant impact.

Conclusions:

• Gender, BMI, physiotherapist experience, and comorbidities influence imaging decisions for non-specific LBP.
• Findings suggest potential biases in imaging referral patterns.
• Emphasizes adherence to guidelines to minimize unnecessary imaging, costs, and improve patient care.