Magnetic Resonance Findings of Acute Severe Lower Back Pain

OBJECTIVE: To determine abnormal MRI findings in adults hospitalized with acute severe axial LBP. METHOD: Sixty patients with back pain were divided into 3 groups consisting of 1) 23 adults with acute axial severe LBP who could not sit up or stand up for several days, but had not experienced previous back-related diseases or trauma (group A), 2) 19 adults who had been involved in a minor traffic accident, and had mild symptoms but not limited mobility (group B), and 3) 18 adults with LBP with radicular pain (group C)., Various MRI findings were assessed among the above 3 groups and compared as follows: disc herniation (protrusion, extrusion), lumbar disc degeneration (LDD), annular tear, high intensity zone (HIZ), and endplate changes. RESULTS: The MRI findings of A group were as follows: disc herniation (87%), LDD (100%), annular tear (100%), HIZ (61%), and end plate changes (4.4%). The findings of disc herniation, annular tear, HIZ, and LDD were more prevalent in A group than in B group (p<0.01). HIZ findings were more prevalent in A group than in group B or group C (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with acute severe axial LBP were more likely to have disc herniation, LDD, annular tear, HIZ. Among LBP groups, there was a significant association of HIZ on MRI with acute severe axial LBP.

Cefepime Neurotoxicity in Patients with Renal Insufficiency

Cefepime is a fourth-generation cephalosporin that is active against both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. It is administered parenterally for the treatment of severe infections. Approximately 85% of the drug is excreted unchanged by the kidneys. Neurotoxicity in patients with renal failure who are treated with cefepime has been reported sporadically. We report on two senile patients with renal impairment who developed neurotoxicity including lethal outcome after treatment with cefepime.

Delayed Subsequent Refracture of a Thoracolumbar Vertebral Compression Fracture

Most patients experiencing an osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture remain asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic. However, a notable number of these patients do experience significant pain at some time resulting in disability and decreased quality of life. A 77-year-old man was admitted to a hospital with severe thoracolumbar pain and functional disabilities even though, 12 months ago, he had received inpatient treatment for 6 months in another hospital with the diagnosis of T12 vertebral compression fracture. Although initial outside spine MRI revealed a stable T12 com pression fracture with a 27.6% compression rate, delayed subsequent re-fracture of the same vertebrae was found on simple X-ray and thoracolumbar CT scan with an 86.5% compression rate and retropulsion to the central spinal canal. He continued to have severe spinal pain and functional disabilities in spite of undergoing a first anterolateral fusion one year ago and a subsequent posterior fusion. We emphasize a proper clinical and radiologic examination at one-year follow-up after successful conservative treatment of vertebral compression fractures.