Correlation of clinical manifestation of lumbar disc prolapse with magnetic resonance imaging findings among adult patients

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The most common cause of low back pain is disc prolapse. Disc prolapse occurs in both gender, but females are more prone to disc degenerative changes. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between clinical findings and MRI findings of lumbar disc prolapse patients. METHODOLOGY: This study recruited 32 participants of either gender, between the ages of 19 to 65, in the Radiology department of Shalamar Hospital. This study was carried out in six months with follow-up. Only diagnosed patients with lumbar disc prolapse on MRI were recruited. NPRS was used to identify the intensity of pain. History and neurological examinations were done in all diagnosed patients. MRI reports of all these patients were reviewed. All these findings of MRI were correlated with the clinical findings at different levels of lumbar vertebrae. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant positive correlation of MRI findings with clinical findings in the presence of nerve root compression at the L1-L2 level of lumbar vertebrae. All abnormal findings on MRI did not correlate with clinical findings because some patients did not produce symptoms. According to the Pearson coefficient correlation, there was a positive but insignificant  (p-value≥0.05) correlation between clinical features (sensations, power and reflexes) and MRI findings at all the levels of lumbar vertebrae except L2 dermatome and myotome. CONCLUSION: There was a not good correlation between MRI findings and clinical findings of patients with lumbar disc prolapse except L2.