Introduction. Low back pain (LBP) is common in children and adolescents. There are many factors that cause LBP, including\nstructural disorders, degenerative changes, Scheuermann�s disease, fractures, inflammation, and tumors. Magnetic Resonance\nImaging is the gold standard for diagnosing spinal abnormalities and is mandatory when neurological symptoms exist. The study\nfocuses on common MRI findings in adolescents with persistent LBP, without history of acute trauma or evidence of either\ninflammatory or rheumatic disease.Materials and Methods. Eleven adolescentswere submitted to thoracic and/or lumbar spineMRI\ndue to persistent LBP.The protocol consisted of T1WI, T2WI, and T2WI with FS, in the axial, sagittal, and coronal plane. Results.\nMRI revealed structural abnormalities (scoliosis and kyphosis) in 4/11 (36.36%); disc abnormalities and endplate changes were\nfound on 11/11 (100%). Typical Scheuermann�s disease was found in 3/11 (27.27%). Endplate changes were severe in Scheuermann�s\npatients and mild to moderate in the remaining 8/11 (72.72%). Kyphosis was in all cases secondary to Scheuermann�s disease. Disk\nbulges and herniaswere found in 8/11 (72.72%), all located in the lumbar spine. Conclusion. In adolescents with LBP, structural spinal\ndisorders, degenerative changes, and Scheuermann�s disease are commonly found on MRI; however, degenerative changes prevail.
Loading....