Magnetic resonance imaging findings in Ghanaian patients presenting with low back pain: a single centre study.

Background: Due to the high prevalence of low back pain which impacts the lives of those affected, several studies have explored findings associated with the lumbar spine (which is the affected anatomy) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This provides a better understanding of the pathology in the study setting and adds to the literature on the subject, which is useful during intervention and has implications for policymaking. However, there is a paucity of literature in the Ghanaian context. This study therefore explored the patterns of MRI findings in Ghanaian patients with low back pain.

Method: A one-year retrospective cross-sectional design with a purposive sampling method was used to retrieve data from 59 MRI lumbar spine radiologist reports with a clinical history of low back pain. Data was analysed descriptively and inferentially. Inferentially, the Fisher's exact or chi-square (X²) test was utilised to ascertain associations between variables where appropriate. Phi coefficient and Cramer's V were used to assess the strength of significant associations. Statistical significance was deduced at p < 0.05.

Results: Among the reports identified, 57.6% (n = 34) were associated with females and 32.4% (n = 25) were associated with males. The mean age across reports was 44.7 ± 16.1 years. Disc degeneration (93.2%, n = 55) and lumbar spondylolysis (76.3%, n = 45) were the two main findings identified as the most prevalent across reports. The lordotic curvatures of patients with low back pain were predominantly normal (74.6% n = 44). Disc degeneration was strongly associated with L4/L5 (V = 0.644, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: The prevalent finding identified was disc degeneration frequently located at L4/L5. Several other abnormal findings were identified. Age was significantly associated with lumbar spondylosis. Disc degeneration and lumbar spondylosis were more frequent between ages 30 and 70 years.

Clinical trial number: Not applicable.