Researchers analyzed 63 patients who underwent single or multilevel lumbar instrumented fusion. All together, the patients received plain radiographs at 269 visits. In approximately 6.3 percent of the visits, abnormal findings were reported as a result of the radiographs.
In patients who presented with new symptoms or clinical deterioration, abnormal findings were reported in 22 percent of the patients. Only 2.7 percent of the radiographs among asymptomatic patients reported abnormal findings. The study’s authors suggested radiographs be used as indicated clinically instead of routinely for these patients.
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