Diffusion Tensor (DTI) for the Assessement of Therapeutic Evolution of Patients With Acute Lumbar Radiculalgia

Correlation between DTI parameters and pain intensity

DTI is a sensitive probe of cellular structure that works by measuring the diffusion of water molecules. The measured quantity is the diffusion coefficient, a proportionality constant that relates diffusive flux to a concentration gradient and has units of mm2/s. The intensity of pain will be self evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS). This scale is between 0 and 10 (in cms) being absence of pain and 10 intolerable pain.

Time frame: 6 months

Correlation between DTI parameters evolution and neuropathic pain

DTI is a sensitive probe of cellular structure that works by measuring the diffusion of water molecules. The measured quantity is the diffusion coefficient, a proportionality constant that relates diffusive flux to a concentration gradient and has units of mm2/s. The presence of neuropathic pain will be evaluated by the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) scale. This is a self-questionnaire.The tool evaluates mean pain intensity in the last 24h in a verbal numeric scale from zero (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain). Total pain intensity score may be calculated by the sum of 10 descriptors.

Time frame: 6 months

Correlation between DTI parameters evolution and disability

DTI is a sensitive probe of cellular structure that works by measuring the diffusion of water molecules. The measured quantity is a diffusion coefficient, a proportionality constant that relates diffusive flux to a concentration gradient and has units of mm2/s. The disability will be measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The final score/index ranges from 0-100. A score of 0-20 reflects minimal disability, 21-40 moderate disability, 41-60 severe disability, 61-80 crippled, and 81-100 bed-bound.

Time frame: 6 months