Can Imaging Characteristics on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predict the Acuity of a Lumbar Disc Herniation?

Authors

• Srikanth N Divi
• Dhruv K C Goyal
• Heeren S Makanji
• Christopher K Kepler
• D Greg Anderson
• Eric D Warner
• Matthew S Galetta
• Victor E Mujica
• Nathan V Houlihan
• I David Kaye
• Mark F Kurd
• Barrett I Woods
• Kris E Radcliff
• Jeffrey A Rihn
• Alan S Hilibrand
• Alexander R Vaccaro
• Gregory D Schroeder

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2021

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Currently, no authors of existing studies have attempted to classify the signal characteristics of disc herniation on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and their temporal relationship to symptoms of lumbar radiculopathy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the MRI signal characteristics are predictive of acuity of symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients treated at an academic center for LDH from 2015 to 2018. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on symptom duration (acute: ≤6 weeks; or chronic: >4 months). Two independent observers measured T1, T2 signal, and other MRI characteristics at the affected disc level. Univariate analysis was used to compare differences between groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine predictors of acuity.

RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were included (33 acute, 56 chronic) with no significant baseline differences between groups. Rater 2 observed a higher proportion of disc bulges in the chronic group (

CONCLUSIONS: Other than Pfirrmann grade or vertebral body spurring, no MRI characteristics could be reliably identified that correlate with acuity of symptoms.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Volume

15

Issue

3

First Page

458

Last Page

465

ISSN

2211-4599

Published In/Presented At

Divi, S. N., Goyal, D. K. C., Makanji, H. S., Kepler, C. K., Anderson, D. G., Warner, E. D., Galetta, M. S., Mujica, V. E., Houlihan, N. V., Kaye, I. D., Kurd, M. F., Woods, B. I., Radcliff, K. E., Rihn, J. A., Hilibrand, A. S., Vaccaro, A. R., & Schroeder, G. D. (2021). Can Imaging Characteristics on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predict the Acuity of a Lumbar Disc Herniation?. International journal of spine surgery, 15(3), 458–465. https://doi.org/10.14444/8032

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

34074744

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article