THE USE OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN THE ASSESSMENT OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE AND LOW BACK DYSFUNCTION

Low back pain and pain derived from the lumbar structures are common causes of disability. An accurate diagnosis of the etiology of the dysfunction is often not possible. The advent of magnetic resonance imaging led to an expectation that it was a non-invasive mechanism for the detection of pain. However, it appears that only limited information can be derived from magnetic resonance imaging in this context, and its use should be confined in most cases to pre-operative assessment in the diagnosis of mechanical pain. This paper deals with the assessment of 'low back dysfunction' when fusion is being considered. In doing so, the literature in regard to the use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of somatic origin low back pain and low back dysfunction is reviewed. Magnetic resonance imaging has a very limited role in the management of lower back disorders.