Influence of low back pain and prognostic value of MRI in sciatica patients in relation to back pain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Patients with sciatica frequently complain about associated back pain. It is not known whether there are prognostic relevant differences in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings between sciatica patients with and without disabling back pain.

Methods

The study population contained patients with sciatica who underwent a baseline MRI to assess eligibility for a randomized trial designed to compare the efficacy of early surgery with prolonged conservative care for sciatica. Two neuroradiologists and one neurosurgeon independently evaluated all MR images. The MRI readers were blinded to symptom status. The MRI findings were compared between sciatica patients with and without disabling back pain. The presence of disabling back pain at baseline was correlated with pe

SUBMITTER: el Barzouhi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3956604 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature