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Table 2 Associations between incident MRI findings and incident symptoms*

From: Longitudinal associations between incident lumbar spine MRI findings and chronic low back pain or radicular symptoms: retrospective analysis of data from the longitudinal assessment of imaging and disability of the back (LAIDBACK)

MRI findings with conceptual links to chronic low back pain

 

Chronic low back pain (n = 24) n (%)

No low back pain (n = 99) n (%)

Odds ratio (95% confidence interval)

p-value

Primary Predictors of Interest

 Endplate changes (any)

2 (8.3)

8 (8.1)

1.0 (0.2-5.2)

0.97

 Endplate changes (type I)

2 (8.3)

5 (5.1)

1.7 (0.3-9.5)

0.54

 Facet joint hypertrophy

3 (12.5)

6 (6.1)

2.2 (0.5-9.6)

0.29

 Annular fissures

3 (12.5)

3 (3.0)

4.6 (0.9-24.2)

0.074

Secondary Predictors of Interest

 Disc height narrowing

1 (4.2)

5 (5.1)

0.8 (0.1-7.3)

0.86

 Disc dessication

3 (12.5)

8 (8.1)

1.6 (0.4-6.7)

0.50

 Disc bulging

2 (8.3)

4 (4.0)

2.2 (0.4-12.5)

0.39

 Spondylolisthesis

2 (8.3)

1 (1.0)

8.9 (0.8-102.7)

0.080

MRI findings with conceptual links to radicular symptoms

 

Radicular symptoms (n = 70) n (%)

Radicular symptoms (n = 53) n (%)

Odds ratio (95% confidence interval)

p -value

Primary Predictors of Interest

 Central canal stenosis*

2 (2.9)

0 (0.0)

1.8 (0.1-∞)

0.64

 Disc extrusions*

5 (7.1)

0 (0.0)

5.4 (0.7-∞)

0.11

 Nerve root impingement*

4 (5.7)

0 (0.0)

4.1 (0.5-∞)

0.20

Secondary Predictors of Interest

 Spondylolisthesis

2 (2.9)

1 (1.9)

1.5 (0.1-17.3)

0.73

 Lateral recess stenosis

7 (10.0)

2 (3.8)

2.8 (0.6-14.2)

0.21

 Disc protrusions

5 (7.1)

4 (7.6)

0.9 (0.2-3.7)

0.93

  1. *Odds ratios calculated using exact logistic regression.