Weight-bearing MRI of the Lumbar Spine: Spinal Stenosis and Spondylolisthesis

Bjarke Brandt Hansen; Cecilie Lerche Nordberg; Philip Hansen; Henning Bliddal; James F. Griffith; Gilles Fournier; Ingrid Thorseth; Giuseppe Guglielmi; Mikael Boesen

doi:10.1055/s-0039-1697937

Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology, Table of Contents

Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2019; 23(06): 621-633
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1697937

Review Article

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Weight-bearing MRI of the Lumbar Spine: Spinal Stenosis and Spondylolisthesis

Bjarke Brandt Hansen

¹Department of Rheumatology, The Parker Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

,

Cecilie Lerche Nordberg

¹Department of Rheumatology, The Parker Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

²Department of Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

,

Philip Hansen

²Department of Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

,

Henning Bliddal

¹Department of Rheumatology, The Parker Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

,

James F. Griffith

³Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong

,

Gilles Fournier

⁴Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

,

Ingrid Thorseth

¹Department of Rheumatology, The Parker Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

,

Giuseppe Guglielmi

⁵Department of Radiology, Scientific Institute “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza” Hospital, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy

,

Mikael Boesen

¹Department of Rheumatology, The Parker Institute, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

²Department of Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Symptoms of degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis include back pain, radiculopathy, claudication, and muscular fatigue that tend to be predominant in the standing position or during walking. Lumbar spondylolisthesis is also a well-known cause of spinal stenosis, lateral recess, and neural foraminal narrowing that tends to become more severe in the upright position. This indicates a functional positional component of both spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. Lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis are typically evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed in the supine position with a pillow under the patient's lower limbs that slightly flexes the lumbar spine and ameliorates symptoms. Because these two entities tend to be aggravated in the upright position, it seems rational to also consider performing diagnostic imaging in these patients in the upright position. This article reviews the use of weight-bearing MRI for lumbar spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis.

Keywords

MRI - weight-bearing - low back pain - spinal stenosis - spondylolisthesis

Full Text

References

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