Spine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Patterns of care after magnetic resonance imaging of the spine in primary care.
Retrospective cohort study. ⋯ Patients receiving MRI scans of the spine in the primary care setting are frequently referred for surgical assessment and most do not receive subsequent surgery. MRI scan results do not discriminate very well between those who will and will not undergo surgery, suggesting that alternative models for the assessment of patients with spinal complaints in primary care should be explored, particularly in jurisdictions with long wait times for elective spinal surgery consultation.