Utility of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of lumbar spondylolysis in adolescent patients.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to investigate the utility of the Doppler effect on ultrasonography for the diagnosis of very early- and early-stage lumbar spondylolysis in adolescent patients.

METHODS

In total, 76 adolescent patients with acute and subacute low back pain were prospectively enrolled, with 46 having lumbar spondylolysis and the remaining 30 having low back pain without spondylolysis. MRI and/or computed tomograms scans revealed very early- and early-stage lumbar spondylolysis. Furthermore, positive Doppler findings in ultrasonography around the area from the facet joint to the laminae were investigated.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age (p > 0.99) and body mass index (p = 0.11) between cases with and without spondylolysis. Very early- and early-stage spondylolysis were observed in 27.6% and 72.4% of patients, respectively. Positive power Doppler was 91.3% and 33.3% in cases with and without spondylolysis, respectively, which was significantly higher in spondylolysis (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of this positive power Doppler were 91.4% and 66.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the rate of positive power Doppler was significantly higher in early-stage spondylolysis (p = 0.02), with 75.0% and 97.6% sensitivity in very early- and early-stage spondylolysis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A positive Doppler effect on ultrasonography is effective for screening very early- and early-stage spondylolysis in adolescent patients in an outpatient clinic.