COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF MRI AND CT SCANS IN DIAGNOSING LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION IN ATHLETES

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) in the clinical diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation among athletes. This study aims to determine which imaging method provides greater accuracy, detail, and diagnostic value in sports medicine. Methods: This retrospective analysis included 200 athletes from a sports clinic who were suspected of having lumbar disc herniation based on clinical symptoms between January 2019 and December 2022. All participants underwent both MRI and CT scans. The outcomes of these imaging studies were compared to surgical findings, which served as the gold standard. Results: MRI showed higher diagnostic effectiveness compared to CT in identifying the specific types and severity of lumbar disc herniation, such as protrusion, extrusion, and sequestration. MRI provided superior visualization of soft tissue structures, nerve root compression, and disc integrity, which are critical in planning athlete-specific treatment strategies. While CT was more effective in detecting bony abnormalities and calcifications, MRI was superior in assessing soft tissue changes and had a higher patient satisfaction rate. Conclusion: MRI proves to be a more valuable tool in the sport’s medical diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation due to its detailed imaging capabilities and higher diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. It is particularly beneficial in sports settings for planning treatments that aim for quick rehabilitation and minimal downtime for athletes. The choice of imaging should be tailored to the athlete's specific clinical scenario and the nature of the suspected disc pathology.