Evaluation of low back pain with low field open magnetic resonance imaging scanner in rural hospital of Southern India

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) is the most common symptom which is associated with limitation of normal activities and work-related disability. Imaging techniques are often essential in making the correct diagnosis for prompt management. Plain Radiography though remain a first imaging modality, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to its inherent softtissue contrast resolution and lack of ionizing radiation remains invaluable modality in the evaluation of LBP. AIM: To find the common causes of LBP in different age groups and the role of MRI in detecting the spectrum of various pathological findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study done in the Department of Radiodiagnosis during a period of 2 years from July 2013 to July 2015. The study population includes all the cases referred to our department with complaints of LBP. Patients with ferromagnetic metallic implants and uncooperative cases were excluded. HITACHI 0.4 Tesla open MRI machine was used for imaging. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: This study involved a total of 235 cases. There were 121 males and 114 females. The age of the patient ranged from 21 to 68 years with an average of 41.3 years. Back pain was commonly observed in the third to fifth decade. The common causes for back pain are disc herniations (disc bulge – 35.3%, disc protrusion – 39.6%, disc extrusion – 7.2%) accounting to 82.1%, followed by normal study (10.2%), vertebral collapse (traumatic – 2.1%, osteoporotic – 1.7%), infections (2.1%), and neoplasm (1.7%). MRI provides valuable information regarding the underlying causes of LBP, especially in disc and marrow pathology.