1980•RadiologyRequires access

Computed tomography in sciatica.

Guillermo F. Carrera, Alan L. Williams, Victor M. Haughton

Open publisher page 67 citations

Abstract

Lumber facet arthropathy and a herniated disk are two major causes of low back pain and sciatica. The authors evaluated the importance of computed tomography (CT) in 243 patients with low back pain and/or sciatica. Lumbar facet abnormalities were found in 139 patients (57%), and a herniated disk was found in 48 patients (20%). CT findings correlated precisely with surgical observations in cases involving a herniated disk and correlated well with the results of an intra-articular facet block in a small series of patients. CT can effectively diagnose and differentiate between lumbar facet arthropathy and a herniated disk.

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What this paper is about

Lumber facet arthropathy and a herniated disk are two major causes of low back pain and sciatica. The authors evaluated the importance of computed tomography (CT) in 243 patients with low back pain and/or sciatica. Lumbar facet abnormalities were found in 139 patients (57%), and a herniated disk was found in 48 patients (20%). CT findings correlated precisely with surgical observations in cases involving a herniated disk and correlated well with the results of an intra-articular facet block in a small series of patients. CT can effectively diagnose and differentiate between lumbar facet arthropathy and a herniated disk.

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OpenAlex reports 67 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

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Available abstract

Lumber facet arthropathy and a herniated disk are two major causes of low back pain and sciatica. The authors evaluated the importance of computed tomography (CT) in 243 patients with low back pain and/or sciatica. Lumbar facet abnormalities were found in 139 patients (57%), and a herniated disk was found in 48 patients (20%). CT findings correlated precisely with surgical observations in cases involving a herniated disk and correlated well with the results of an intra-articular facet block in a small series of patients. CT can effectively diagnose and differentiate between lumbar facet arthropathy and a herniated disk.

Key concepts: Sciatica, Medicine, Facet (psychology), Lumbar, Low back pain, Arthropathy, Radiology, Intervertebral disk

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