Correlation of Low Back Pain with Pathological Changes of Lumbar Spinal Segment in Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract: Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the association of low back pain in young adults with most likely involved spinal level by MRI findings of their lumbar spinal segment. Methods: The current study was conducted on 120 adults aged 25 to 40 years with low back pain. Lumbar spinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of these subjects was collected from Capital Diagnostic Center, Islamabad. Patients with any trauma, spinal surgery or fracture, active malignancy, metabolic bone disease, rheumatoid arthritis or pregnancy were excluded from the study. Disc and non-disc related parameters were evaluated from L1- L5 spinal levels. Further, gender based difference in magnetic resonance imaging findings was also assessed. Results: All the adults with low back pain showed some degree of disc degeneration on Pfirrmann grading system. The disc related MRI findings were more prevalent at lower lumbar spine levels L4-5 & L5-S1. On gender comparison, no significant difference of spinal level was found in males and females. However, it was revealed that males mostly had asymmetrical disc bulge (p = 0.03) and females were having facet joint involvement (p = 0.005).  Conclusion: In young adults with low back pain, lower lumbar spinal levels were involved. Disc degeneration was mostly found in lower lumbar spinal levels without any gender difference. However, other underlying factors of low back pain may differ in males and females. Key words: Disc Degeneration, Intervertebral Disc, Lumbar spine, Low back pain, MRI, Young adults