Investigating Relationship Between History and Physical Examination by Indicating MRI in Patients with Low Back Pain in Imam Reza Hospital

The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of guidelines or risk factors in patients with LBP by referring clinicians.
We randomly selected people that referred to the imaging center for lumbar spine MRI during 1 year, January to December 2016. History regarding the back pain and physical examination was taken in patients as well as asked about the parameters of indications for LBP before doing the MRI.
Total patients studied during this year were 710. Sex difference in these patients was 200 male (28.2%) and 510 female (71.8%). The mean age of referred patients was 41.2 years (18 - 90 year). Base on the history of the patients, about 135 patients had at least 1 risk factor that indicated for imaging. During physical examination about 108 patients had at least 1 indication for imaging. Patients in this study were referred from different physicians; most of them were neurosurgeons (479 - 67.5%) and orthopedics (101 - 14.2%).
This study shows that about 75% of cases referred for a MRI didn’t have any medical indication for imaging. Apart from results of any low back MRI that might be different from clinical process and cause wrong management, their cost and benefits are very important factor for decision making.