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MRI
emerges as vital resource in treatment of
Back Pain
Newswise — Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
is a growing technology providing an
increasing number of clinical benefits when
used in the evaluation of back pain
according to an article in the January 2009
issue of the
Journal of the American Academy of
Orthopaedic Surgeons.
It is predicted that over the next several
years, additional technical developments
will allow MRI to provide even more useful
orthopaedic benefits.
Co-author Victor M. Haughton, MD, department
of radiology, University of Wisconsin
Hospitals and Clinics says, “Because of the
many different ways to gather this important
information, MRI can be used to identify or
display almost every type of spinal tissue
or pathology.
The imaging sequence can be modified to meet
many different clinical needs.” Those
include:
• Back pain
• Infection
• Tumor
• Trauma and vascular disease
Researchers continue to find new ways to
apply technologies that were previously used
exclusively on other areas of the body.
MRI which is considered safe, fast and
versatile is now being used in several
spinal applications such as:
• intervertebral disk and facet joint
degeneration
•
spinal canal stenosis
• vascular disorders
• trauma
MRI scans are produced by stimulating the
protons in tissues and liquids (such as fat,
muscle, spinal cord, and fluid in the spine)
using radiofrequency waves in the presence
of a magnetic field. MRI detects the amount
of energy emitted from these protons.
This technology makes MRI well suited to
evaluate spaces between spinal vertebrae,
bone marrow, the spinal canal, and in soft
tissues.
Therefore MRI has been shown to be useful
for almost every spinal pathology including;
diseases of the spinal cord, nerve roots,
vertebrae, disks and blood vessels. With MRI
there is no radiation risk to the patient.
Computed tomography (CT) has also improved
in resolution and scanning speed and is
often the only imaging method available for
patients with pacemakers, nerve stimulators,
or those who suffer from claustrophobia.
For these individuals, CT can provide
structural information needed for diagnosis
in many back pain cases. However, CT does
include some exposure to radiation.
MRI although a very important technology,
should never take the place of a thorough
medical history and physical examination.
Also, there are often structural findings or
“abnormalities” on MRI that are not
clinically relevant and not necessarily
related to a patient’s symptoms.
MRI findings must always correlate with the
patient’s clinical picture.
“The possibilities of magnetic resonance
have not yet been realized. It is a rapidly
evolving field.
"When
we need tools to identify a possible
herniated disk, the simplest type of MR
imaging or CT imaging can be used
successfully.
"
However, if you want to find out which disk
is causing pain, which nerve is firing,
which metabolites are present in abnormal
amounts, or how well the spinal elements are
functioning, MRI will provide the answers,”
adds Dr. Haughton.
Disclosure: Neither Dr. Haughton or any
member of his immediate family has received
anything of value from, or owns stock in, a
commercial company or institution related
directly or indirectly to the subject of
this article.
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