title: Serial gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging after lumbar disc resection: observation of the affected root.
abstract: A prospective study was undertaken to clarify the relationship between postoperative morphological/pathological changes in the affected root and the clinical developments after disc resection. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed at 1 week, 5 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery for 28 patients of 34 consecutive patients who underwent single-level disc resection. Enhancement/thickening of the affected root was found to be 100%/89% at 1 week, 50%/57% at 3 months, and 32%/37% at 6 months after surgery. Patients with root enhancement and thickening at 3 and 6 months after surgery had less clinical improvement than patients without it. There was consistent correlation between postoperative clinical developments and nerve root enhancement/thickening in enhanced MR imaging. To use enhanced MR imaging as an evaluation tool after disc surgery might increase the diagnostic accuracy and reduce failed back surgery syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chubu Rosai Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yukawa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kajino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium