[RESEARCH] MRI Accuracy for Low Back Pain

How Accurate are MRIs for Low Back Pain?

RESULTS:

49 distinct Findings
0/49 Findings were reported in all 10 MRIs
ONLY 1 finding was reported in 9/10 MRI reports
32% of findings appeared only once across all 10 MRI reports.
The average true positive rate (sensitivity) was 56.4%

CONCLUSIONS:

HIGH prevalence of MRI interpretive errors.
WHERE a MRI is done and WHO interprets it, may have a direct impact on the diagnosis.
This is Yet another study showing that MRI results may not be as diagnostically accurate as you think.

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SOURCE:
Herzog R., et al., 2016. Variability in diagnostic error rates of 10 MRI centers performing lumbar spine MRI examinations on the same patient within a 3-week period. The Spine Journal.

Dalton Urrutia, MSc PT

Dalton is a Physical Therapist from Oregon, currently living and running the performance physiotherapy clinic he founded in London for Grapplers and Strength & Conditioning athletes. Dalton runs the popular instagram account @physicaltherapyresearch, where he posts easy summaries of current and relevant research on health, fitness, and rehab topics.

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