[(Modic) signal alterations of vertebral endplates and their correlation to a minimally invasive treatment of lumbar disc herniation using epidural injections].

Purpose: To study the influence of (Modic) signal alterations (SA) of the cartilage endplate (CEP) of vertebrae L3-S1 on the outcome of an in-patient minimally invasive treatment (MIT) using epidural injections on patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Materials And Methods: The MR images of 59 consecutive patients with LDH within segments L3/L4 - L5/S1 undergoing in-patient minimally invasive treatment with epidural injections were evaluated in a clinical study. The (Modic) signal alterations of the CEP were recorded using T1- and T2-weighted sagittal images.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine after epidural and nerve root injection therapy: evaluation of soft tissue changes.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed to evaluate soft tissue changes after nerve root and epidural injections in lumbar spine in patients with radiculopathy.

Materials/methods: Patients underwent a multiple-shot injection protocol to nerve root/epidural space. The MRI protocol included T1-weighted, T2-weighted, STIR, and contrast-enhanced, fat-saturated T1-weighted sequences before and after treatment.

Heating of non-ferromagnetic total hip endoprostheses during magnetic resonance imaging in an animal model.

To determine the heating effects of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on non-ferromagnetic total hip endoprostheses, hip endoprostheses were tested in vitro and in an ex vivo animal model. The MRI protocol on a 1.5 T scanner consisted of five sequences with a total duration of 23 min.

[Distribution of MRI signal alterations of the cartilage endplate in pre-operated patients with special focus on recurrent lumbar disc herniation].

Purpose: To study the location of (Modic) MR signal alterations (SA) of the cartilage endplate (CEP) in pre- and non-operated segments L3-S1 with special focus on the presence of recurrent lumbar disc herniation (RLDH).

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective study the MR images of vertebrae L3-S1 of 65 consecutive patients with a history of microdiscectomy were evaluated. Of the 190 segments studied, 67 were pre-operated.

Effective dose of CT- and fluoroscopy-guided perineural/epidural injections of the lumbar spine: a comparative study.

The objective of this study was to compare the effective radiation dose of perineural and epidural injections of the lumbar spine under computed tomography (CT) or fluoroscopic guidance with respect to dose-reduced protocols. We assessed the radiation dose with an Alderson Rando phantom at the lumbar segment L4/5 using 29 thermoluminescence dosimeters. Based on our clinical experience, 4-10 CT scans and 1-min fluoroscopy are appropriate.