Abstract:
Introduction. Lumbar neurocompressive syndrome is a condition characterized by radicular pain, motor, sensory and reflex changes, as well as paresthesia or numbness in the lower limb. These symptoms can be triggered by positions and/ or movements of the spine. In lumbar radiculopathy, both mechanical and inflammatory factors play significant roles. Material and methods. The study included 102 patients with signs of lumbar neurocompressive syndrome. Of these, 51 (group I) patients were examined using MRI and the other 51 patients (group II) were examined using conventional radiographic investigation of the lumbosacral region of the spine. Results. By analyzing the magnetic resonance imaging data of the lumbar spine, a threshold of statistical significance was determined (of 10%, p < 0.10) for patients with sensory disturbances in the lower limb in cases of stenosis of the lumbar spinal canal, and in patients with motor disorders in the lower limb, in the case of disc protrusions. The analysis of the magnetic resonance imaging data determined a significance threshold (of 5%, p < 0.05) in patients with sensory disorders (in the case of disc sequestrations and in the case of disc extrusions) as well as for motor disorders (in the case of disc extrusions, disc sequestrations and static disorders of the spine). The analysis of standard radiographs of the lumbar spine allowed the determination of the threshold of statistical significance (of 5%, p < 0.05) in patients with sensory disorders in the lower limb in cases of coxofemoral osteoarthritis and Schmorl’s hernias. For patients with motor disorders at the level of the lower limb, conventional radiography was informative in the presence of calcification of the intervertebral discs and in coxofemoral osteoarthritis. Conclusion. MRI can be considered the first-choice imaging technique for diagnosis of the lumbar spine pathologies characterized by sensory and motor changes in the lower limbs.
