RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Can Imaging Characteristics on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Predict the Acuity of a Lumbar Disc Herniation?
JF International Journal of Spine Surgery
JO Int J Spine Surg
FD International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery
SP 458
OP 465
DO 10.14444/8032
VO 15
IS 3
A1 Divi, Srikanth N.
A1 Goyal, Dhruv K.C.
A1 Makanji, Heeren S.
A1 Kepler, Christopher K.
A1 Anderson, D. Greg
A1 Warner, Eric D.
A1 Galetta, Matthew S.
A1 Mujica, Victor E.
A1 Houlihan, Nathan V.
A1 Kaye, I. David
A1 Kurd, Mark F.
A1 Woods, Barrett I.
A1 Radcliff, Kris E.
A1 Rihn, Jeffrey A.
A1 Hilibrand, Alan S.
A1 Vaccaro, Alexander R.
A1 Schroeder, Gregory D.
YR 2021
UL https://www.ijssurgery.com/content/15/3/458.abstract
AB 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 (P = .021) and a higher abnormal T1 herniation signal in the acute group (P = .048). Rater 1 found a higher Pfirrmann grade (P = .005) and a higher prevalence of vertebral body spurring (P = .007) in the chronic group. Interobserver agreement for T1 central and herniation signals demonstrated poor to fair agreement, whereas the remainder of the measurements showed moderate to substantial agreement (κ = 0.4–0.8). Multiple logistic regression showed that Pfirrmann Grade 5 (odds ratio = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [0.02, 0.74], P = .022) and anterior/posterior spurring (odds ratio = 0.053 [0.03, 0.85], P = .023) were not associated with acuity.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.