Letter to the editor concerning “How much does an MRI change over a period of up to 2 years in patients with chronic low back pain? Is a repeated MRI really necessary in the follow-up of patients with chronic low back pain?” by Tomé-Bermejo F, et al. (Eur spine J [2024] https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-024-08416-1)

Eur Spine J. 2025 Aug 23. doi: 10.1007/s00586-025-09275-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To improve the scientific validity and accuracy of this study.

METHOD: We studied the research methods of the article by carefully reading the article and consulting the relevant literature.

RESULT: The authors questioned the routine use of MRI as a follow-up tool by statistically comparing the degree of change in MRI findings in patients with chronic low back pain over a period of less than or equal to two years.

CONCLUSION: To further enhance the scientific rigor of the study, we suggest that certain aspects could be refined, such as including a more comprehensive discussion of patient characteristics, making adjustments to the time limit for inclusion in the study, and conducting more detailed categorical comparisons of different patient populations before and after.

PMID:40848162 | DOI:10.1007/s00586-025-09275-0