Determination of the Lumber True Space of Disc Herniation Based on MRI and Surgical Simple in Comparison With Standard Method of Radiography

Determining the level of lesion in lumber disc disease might be difficult, especially when there is a transitional vertebrae. MRI is one the methods widely used in presurgery; however, presence of sacralization or lumbarization may lead to a incorrect diagnosis. This study aimed at evaluating the agreement degree between the results of MRI and surgery with the post-operative radiographic findings in patients with lumber disc herniation. Thirty patients with lumber disc herniation were evaluated in a diagnostic value study during a 15-month period of time. Presurgery MRI results, as well as the findings during operation regarding the level of herniated lumbar disc were compared with the radiographic findings, numbering the vertebra below the C2 after surgery. The radiologic assessment of involved segment was considered as the gold standard method. Transitional vertebrae were determined on the basis of radiologic findings. There were thirty patients with lumber disc herniation, 16 males and 14 females, with the mean age of 40.83±12.57 years in the study. There was a high and significant degree of compatibility agreement between the results of MRI and findings during surgery with the radiologic data (kappa=0.719, p