X-Ray Lumbosacral Spine AP & Lateral
Also known as
X-ray - lumbosacral spine; X-ray - lower spine
This x-ray is a standard procedure to help pinpoint and observe fractures, causes of swelling, deformity, pain in your lower back and spine, and arthritis. Please consult your physician if you have any questions or need details about this test. A lumbosacral spine X-ray is an imaging exam that helps your healthcare provider view your lower back and spine anatomy. The lumbar spine comprises five sections of vertebral bones, and the sacrum is a curved 'shield' at the back of your pelvis. The tailbone (or coccyx) is below the sacrum. The lumbar spine also has cartilage, large vessels, tendons, and ligaments.Thus, an X-ray is used to introduce radiation and view the bones. While focusing on the lower spine, an x-ray can successfully detect abnormalities, signs of injury, and diseases of bones in that specific area. Since an X-ray focuses on bones and not muscle and tendons, it can show arthritis and broken bones in the back but not problems with muscles and nerves.
You would need to get a lumbar spine X-ray for a host of reasons. If you have had a recent fall or accident, determine if your current treatment is working or the progression of diseases like osteoporosis. Any lower back pain complaints are often treated for 4-8 weeks before an X-ray is ordered. The most common use of a lumbosacral X-ray is to look for the cause of lower back pain that:
- Occurs after injury
- Is severe
- Does not go away after 4 to 8 weeks
- Is present in an older person
X-rays are conducted in the hospitals' radiology department or at a clinic specializing in diagnostic procedures. The exam will be seen through by an X-ray technician. The patient will be expected to lie straight on the exam table with their face upfront or face down. However, if the patient is injured, they will not be asked to turn over. Trauma patients are usually in the AP or PA position with minimal movement. While you lie on the table, a technician moves a large camera over your back. The film inside the table captures X-ray images of your spine as the camera changes positions overhead. The patient's legs are made to bend at the knees to ensure that the back is flat against the table, and they are asked to stop breathing to obtain precise exposures. Most technicians take 3-5 pictures. In patients with suspected fracture, the lumbar spine supine with a horizontal beam will be used instead. The gonads are shielded. The patient is asked to inhale and exhale and hold their breath during exposure.
X-ray is a routine procedure that does not require any special preparation. However, make sure you keep the following points in mind before your appointment:
- If you are pregnant or think you might be, inform your physician and radiologist to discuss the exposure limit for the developing fetus.
- Remove any jewelry or metal objects that might distort the radiographic image.
- Consult the X-ray technician if you wear any on-body devices such as an insulin pump or have metal implants from prior surgeries
- You may be asked to change into the hospital gown for the imaging at the time of the scan.
An X-ray is a routine procedure conducted to determine the cause of chronic back pain, view the progression of diseases or infections, or spread and effects of injuries. Your doctor may prescribe a Lumbosacral Spine X-ray to diagnose and locate:
- congenital disabilities or infections that affect the spine
- accidental injury or fracture to the lower spine or vertebrae
- chronic lower back pain that lasts for more than 4-8 weeks
- osteoarthritis, a type of arthritis that affects the joints
- osteoporosis, a condition where your bone has pores and the density is decreased
- Any suspected tumors
- Detection of suspected disc problems like dislocation or slipping of one vertebra over the other (spondylolisthesis) or degeneration of spinal discs or bone spurs
- abnormal curvature of the spine like lordosis (excessive inward curve of spine), kyphosis (exaggerated outward curve of the spine), and scoliosis (side to abnormal side curvature)
Your X-ray will be used in conjunction with several other tests or observations made by your physician to decide on a unanimous diagnosis. Though you may see some of these findings on an x-ray, they are not always the cause of back pain. Many spine problems cannot be diagnosed using a lumbosacral x-ray. These include Sciatica, slipped or herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or narrowing of the spinal column.
You can change back into your regular clothes and go on about your day immediately after the test. Your physician and technician will review and discuss the findings of your X-ray. Results from your X-ray may be available the same day. Your doctor will design a plan on how to proceed based on what your results show. They may order additional imaging, blood tests, or other special tests to make an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor might also request other imaging tests along with an X-ray to determine the cause of your back pain. Some of the scans requested could be MRIs, bone scans, Ultrasounds, CT scans. Each of these is conducted under different conditions and yields different types of images.
