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Radiology II: MRI

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Spinal Instability

Part of the book series: New Procedures in Spinal Interventional Neuroradiology ((NPSIN))

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Abstract

Supine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used in the assessment of low-back pain and radiculopathy. However, imaging findings often correlate poorly with clinical findings. This is partly related to the positional dependence of spinal stenosis, which reflects dynamic changes in soft-tissue structures. Upright MRI in the flexed, extended, rotated, standing, and bending positions allows patients to reproduce the positions that bring about their symptoms. Assessment of the degree of spinal stability in the degenerate and postoperative lumbar spine is also possible and it offers many diagnostic opportunities. The aim of this chapter is to present the findings concerning the spine instability using conventional and dynamic MRI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, L’Aquila University, Via vetoio, L’Aquila, 67100, Italy

    Alessandra Splendiani, Lucia Patriarca MD & Massimo Gallucci

Authors
  1. Alessandra Splendiani
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  2. Lucia Patriarca MD
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  3. Massimo Gallucci
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessandra Splendiani .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Minimal Invasive Spine Therapy Cannizzaro Hospital, Catania, Italy

    Luigi Manfrè

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Splendiani, A., Patriarca, L., Gallucci, M. (2015). Radiology II: MRI. In: Manfrè, L. (eds) Spinal Instability. New Procedures in Spinal Interventional Neuroradiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12901-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12901-3_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-12900-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-12901-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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