Association Between Clinical Signs and MRI Findings of the Lumbar Facet Joints

Christoph Maier, Prof. Dr.150 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine 1. the prevalence of lumbar facet joint pain detected by manual segmental provocation tests 2. the prevalence of MRI findings of the lumbar facet joints (hypertrophy, effusion, edema) 3. the association of lumbar facet joint pain and MRI findings on a segmental level in subjects with current low back pain and in a control group.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

150

Conditions

Low Back Pain Facet Joint Pain

Interventions

MRI of the lumbar spineOTHER

standard protocol, approximately 30 minutes

manual segmental examination of the lumbar facet jointsOTHER

use of three different segmental facet joint provocation tests (spinal palpation, segmental rotation and springing-test) from Th12-L1 to L5-S1

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria for both study groups: * age \> 18 * written informed consent * ability to perform required examinations Inclusion Criterion for current low back pain-group: \- more than (\>=) 30 days of low back pain in the last three months Inclusion Criterion for control group: \- less than 30 days of low back pain in the last three months Exclusion Criteria for both study groups: * acute radicular low back pain in the last three months * claustrophobia * spondylodesis of the lumbar spine * any metallic implants which are not MRI-compatible

Locations (1)

Department of Pain Medicine, BG Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil GmbH

Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of facet joints per person which show facet joint pain and FJ effusion and/ or edema

association of facet joint pain and MRI facet joint findings is determined

Time frame: 2 hours

Secondary Outcomes

number of painful facet joints per person

prevalence of facet joint pain assessed by manual segmental provocation tests

Time frame: 2 hours

number of facet joints diagnosed with facet joint effusion and/ or edema per person

prevalence of facet joint findings in the lumbar spine assessed by MRI (facet joint effusion and/ or facet joint edema)

Time frame: 2 hours

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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