Relationship between magnetic resonance imaging and quantitative sensory testing at the patients with lumbar disc herniation

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging and quantitative sensory testing and to participate the quantitative sensory testing in clinical practice with imaging methods. Totally 56 patients, who appeal the department of neurosurgery and algology with lumbar disc herniation were included. In all the patients included this study; there were L4-L5 intervertebral disc herniation and as a test area, L5 dermotomal area with symptomatic and asymptomatic sites were chosen. We measured the VDT (vibration detection threshold), HDT (heat detection threshold), CDT (cool detection threshold) and HPT (heat pain threshold) with CASE IV quantitative sensory testing. When all parameters analyzed, we found that, all the QST parameters levels were significantly higher at the symptomatic side according to asymptomatic side. When we compared the QST and MRG Pfirmann grading system; all QST parameters were significantly increased by the degree of Pfirmann. As as result; this study showed that, QST volues which measured at the dermotomal area and the radiculopathy showed with MRG have a relationship with each other. These results suggested that; it will be useful to apply the quantitative sensory testing to the patients, when the MRG is not possible and symptoms are not corralated with MRG.