title: [Intervertebral instability].
abstract: The clinic diagnosis of degenerative lumbar intervertebral instability is a controversial topic and have not yet been clarified clinical criteria for to define this condition with accuracy. Although the lumbar pain is the most common symptom in patients who have lumbar intervertebral instability its clinical presentation is not specific; moreover in patients with lumbar pain there are no agreed signs and symptoms that can be truly attributable to instability. Despite better imaging techniques of testing spinal instability there is not a clear relations between radiologic signs of instability and clinical symptoms. It is, however, still far from unanimous definition of degenerative lumbar intervertebral instability accepted from all specialists involved in diagnosis and treatment of this condition; however, seem there is most agree about suspected vertebral instability. Nevertheless this unresolved topic, it is possible to state that imaging play an increasing role in diagnosis and management of patients with suspected instability. The aim of this study is to investigate the different imaging modalities most indicated in diagnosis if vertebral instability and whether degenerative change can be associated with lower back pain.
authors.affiliation: Radiologia DEA, Az. Policlinico Umberto I, Università Sapienza, Roma, Italia.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Colaiacomo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortora
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Biasi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polettini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Casciani
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gualdi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed