Role of Ultrasonography in Diagnosis of Spinal Stenosis With Lumbar Osteochondrosis

Diagnostic visual examinations for patients with any type of spinal stenosis include either magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography with myelogram, sometimes both tests are prescribed to patients. Ultrasound is usually most effective for tissues with a high content of collagen, i.e. tendons, ligaments, joint capsules and fascia. In osteochondrosis, spinal ultrasonography is used to determine whether a back pain is the result of cracks or a herniated disc. To evaluate the possibilities of ultrasound in diagnosis of lumbar spine stenosis, an analysis of its results in 48 patients aged 41−57 years. Forty five of them were diagnosed with intervertebral disc herniation, 3 with protrusion of various localization and hypertrophy of the yellow ligament. All the patients underwent radiography, magnetic resonance or computed tomography, as well as ultrasound. In 24 patients the laminectomy was performed in 31 discs. In 21 cases, the hernia was paramedian, in 17 it was − median and in 14 this was circular. Laminectomies were performed much more frequently due to median and circular hernias. The slightest deformation of spinal canal is observed in the posterolateral localization of hernia or protrusion. In thin individuals, ultrasound images of the spinal canal elements were excellent, in those with moderate weight they were slightly inferior to magnetic resonance imaging. In three cases of spinal canal stenosis in obese patients who underwent laminectomy, the results of ultrasonography were unsatisfactory and the decision for surgery was made only on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging. It is concluded that ultrasound is a very informative way of assessing the degree of lumbar spine stenosis resulted from degenerative changes in intervertebral discs.