Early Imaging May Not Be Beneficial for Older Patients Suffering from Back Pain - East Idaho News
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Early Imaging May Not Be Beneficial for Older Patients Suffering from Back Pain

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Thinkstock 031815 BackPainDoctor?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1426733145384Catherine Yeulet/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A new study indicates early imaging may not be beneficial for older patients suffering from back pain.

Researchers followed more than 5,000 patients over the age of 65 who had an initial primary care visit for back pain between 2011 and 2013. Of those patients, 1,174 had early radiographs, while 349 had early MRI or CT scans. Researchers say that as a result of those early scans, the patients were no better off one year later than the control groups who did not receive imaging.

What researchers say they did find was an increase in cost of care for those who underwent early imaging.


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