Phoenix-based Barrow Neurological Institute researchers studied a new imaging technique for lumbar spine degeneration, according to Medical Xpress.
Barrow worked with Russia-based Irkutsk Scientific Center of Surgery and Traumatology and Irkutsk State Medical University on the analysis. The Russian Science Federation granted its first international neurosurgery scientific project with an emphasis on degenerating spinal discs.
PLOS ONE published the study.
Here are four takeaways:
1. Researchers evaluated 100 patients undergoing imaging at Irkutsz. Barrow researchers help with data management and analysis.
2. The patients underwent MRI imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient maps.
3. The ADC technique observes the water movements in the intervertebral disc and additional spinal structures.
4. Researchers are now comparing their results with the histology and biomarkers of disc degeneration. The hope is that providers will be able to notice the disease earlier.