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| Author | Joseph Grima |
| Abstract | Plain film lumbar spine radiography is a very frequently requested examination in patients with low back pain attending primary health care centres in Malta. Although St. Lukes Hospital is equipped with advanced imaging modalities such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computerized Tomography, tools that are more sensitive in imaging pathologies of the spine, plain film lumbar spine radiography constitutes about 12% of all requests for x-ray examinations in the Primary Health Department. This study was designed to obtain insight into the general perception of general practitioners working in primary health care clinics about the role of Plain Film Radiography in the determination of the cause of low back pain and its effect on patient management. Another objective of the study was to determine whether Plain Film Radiography contributes to the determination of the cause of low back pain and patient management by studying the outcome from a sample of 30 patients attending for plain film lumbar spine radiography due to low back pain. The study was carried out in a Health Centre that caters for the primary care needs of patients from the south of Malta. The results of the study showed that although in some cases, plain film lumbar spine radiography may contribute to the determination of the cause of low back pain, it was less effective as regards to patient management. |
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| Journal | B.Sc. (Honours) Radiography, University of Malta |
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| Pages | - |
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| Key words | plain film, lumbar spine, radiography, back pain, primary care |