BACKGROUND Lumbar degenerative disease, a common cause of debilitating low back pain, primarily affects the lumbar spine due to heavy mechanical stress. It involves structural components like intervertebral discs, vertebral periosteum, facet joints, and spinal ligaments. MRI findings of degeneration include disc bulging or herniation, annulus fissures and tears, Modic changes, facetalarthropathy, ligamentumflavum hypertrophy, neural foramen stenosis, spinal canal stenosis, and vertebral osteophytes. Aim and objectives To characterize MRI findings in lumbar degenerative disease and establish their relationship with the severity of self-assessed modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) in patients with low back pain. METHODS This prospective study, conducted at the Department of Radiodiagnosis, R.L.J Hospital and Research Centre, Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, from June 2022 to September 2024, included 100 consenting patients of all ages with low back pain referred for MRI lumbar spine. Exclusions were made for non-consenting patients, those with low back pain due to infection or neoplasia, trauma history, operative interventions, claustrophobia, or uncooperativeness. MRI findings were correlated with the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). RESULTS Disc degenerative changes were most common among the 40-60 age group, with females being more affected than males. Central disc bulges predominantly occur, especially at the L4-L5 level, which was also the most common site for annulus fissures or tears. Type I degenerative end plate changes were frequently seen at L5-S1, while Type II changes were most common at L4-L5. Facetalarthropathy, ligamentumflavum hypertrophy, and spinal canal stenosis were prevalent at the L4-L5 level, with Grade I neural foramen stenosis common at both L4-L5 and L5-S1, and higher grades (II, III, IV) at L4-L5. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were higher in patients with severe spinal canal stenosis and neural foraminal narrowing, indicating a significant correlation between these MRI findings and functional disability. CONCLUSION MRI represents a non-invasive imaging method that avoids the risks associated with ionizing radiation. It excels in accurately identifying and categorizing the extent of lumbar degenerative conditions. MRI's capability to detect even minor abnormalities makes it effective for pinpointing subtle lesions. When evaluating patients' functional disability, the modified Oswestry Disability Index emerges as a superior tool.

Lumbar degenerative disease, a common cause of debilitating low back pain, primarily affects the lumbar spine due to heavy mechanical stress.