Lumbosacral spine CT

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

CT scan

Skeletal spine

Vertebra, lumbar (low back)

Vertebra, thoracic (mid back)

Lumbosacral spine CT

Definition:

A lumbosacral spine CT is a computed topography of the lower spine and surrounding tissues.

Alternative Names:
Spinal CT; CT - lumbosacral spine
How the test is performed:

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The CT is performed with the patient lying face-up.

In some cases, an iodine-based contrast dye may be injected into a vein to help visualize tissues. In other cases, a CT of the lumbosacral spine may be performed after injecting contrast dye into the spinal canal during a lumbar puncture to further evaluate for nerve root compression.

The scan will usually last a few minutes.

How to prepare for the test:

The patient should remove all jewelry or other metals that may cause artifact in the images.

Infants and children:

The preparation you can provide for this test depends on your child's age, previous experiences, and level of trust. For general information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics:

Infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
Toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
Preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
Schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
Adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How the test will feel:

The x-rays are painless. The primary discomfort may be from the need to lie still on the table.

If intravenous contrast dye is given, the patient may initially feel a slight burning sensation within the injected arm, a metallic taste in the mouth, and a warm flushing of the body. These sensations are normal and usually reside within a few seconds.
Why the test is performed:

A CT scan is an excellent tool for evaluating fractures and degenerative changes of the spine (such as from arthritis). MRI is a superior exam for imaging the spinal cord and intervertebral discs.