When back pain and imaging results don’t align, determining the right next step can be challenging. Robert Norton, MD, an orthopaedic spine surgeon and founding partner at Florida Spine Associates, recently shared his expertise with MDLinx for an article examining how physicians can navigate cases where a patient’s symptoms may not match what appears on an MRI or CT scan.
In the article, Dr. Norton discusses the importance of looking beyond imaging alone and considering a patient’s symptoms, clinical history and neurological findings when determining the appropriate course of care.
“On an MRI or CT, I am checking the canal diameter before I even look at why the scan was ordered. Patients who come in after a fall can have a finding that looks minor but can actually be more serious, especially if they are elderly patients,” says Dr. Norton.
In the article, he also noted that spinal cord compression isn’t always apparent on early imaging because it may get worse over time, stressing the importance of follow-up appointments and additional imaging when needed.
