The association between early MRI and length of disability in acute lower back pain: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Clinical guideline recommendations are against early magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) within the first 4 to 6 weeks of conservative management of acute low back pain (LBP) without "clinical suspicion" of serious underlying conditions (red flags). There is some limited evidence that a significant proportion of patients with LBP receive eMRI non- indicated by clinical guidelines, which could be associated with increased length of disability (LOD). The aim of this systematic review was to investigate whether eMRI for acute LBP without red flags is associated with increased LOD. The LOD was defined as the number of disability days (absence from work).

Methods

Medline, EMBASE, and CINAHL bibliographic databases were searched from inception until June 5, 2021. Two revi

SUBMITTER: Shraim BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8614033 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature