A clinical and radiological study of lumbar spine in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Study Design: Thirty Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients and age and sex matched 30 chronic back pain patients were studied by using a structured questionnaire, clinical examination of the back and radiology of the lumbar spine. Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and the radiological characteristics of the lumbar spine in RA. Summary of the Background Data: The characteristic radiological appearances of lumbar spine in RA include disc narrowing associated osteophytosis, spondylolisthesis, facet joint erosions and osteoporosis. Little is known about the relationship between back pain and these radiological patterns. Methods: RA patients were asked about the symptom bf chronic low back pain. Clinical examination included lumbar spine movements: flexion, extension and lateral flexions and radiology included lumbar spine X-rays and lumbar Computerized Tomography (CT). Results: Nineteen (%63.3) of HA patients had chronic back pain. Clinically extension was more limited'in RA group ( p< 0.05). Radiologically facet joint erosions (p