Diagnosis of low back pain: role of imaging studies.

Approximately 70% of North Americans experience low back pain during their lifetime, with most of them demonstrating improvement within 2 to 4 weeks. The use of early radiographic evaluation is often unnecessary for uncomplicated acute low back injuries. Select patient populations have been identified for early evaluation.

Thoracic radiculopathy.

Thoracic radiculopathy represents an uncommon spinal disorder that is frequently overlooked in the evaluation of spinal pain syndromes. Degenerative disc disease and diabetes mellitus may frequently cause radiculopathy at the thoracic level. Electromyography and magnetic resonance imaging are useful in the evaluation of radiculopathy and thoracic spinal pain syndromes.