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Investigations

Authoring team

Various imaging techniques are used when intervertebral discs have prolapsed in order to localise the site of the lesion, and to exclude alternative pathology, e.g. metabolic and neoplastic bone disease:

  • radiograph - may show disc space narrowing and osteophytes in cases of chronic recurrence; can show herniation of nucleus pulposus into the vertebral bodies - Schmorl's nodes
  • contrast myelography scan
  • CT scan
  • NMR scan

Reference

  1. Low back pain and sciatica in over 16s: assessment and management. NICE Guidelines (November 2016 - last updated December 2020) NG59

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