How To Interpret MRI Report?

My mom(60 years old) has some back pain problem on left leg.Doctor advised for MRI Lumbar Spine.One doctor told surgery is not needed and one doctor told surgery is compulsary. I am in now big dilema what to do.Please advise.



The following is the MRI Report:

1.Scoliosis of lumbar spine with concavity to the left side.

Vertebra:

1.Shows diffuses osteoporosis



2.No siginificant focal signal chnages.

3.Antero lateral signal seen in lower lumbar vertebra with end plate degenerative chnages seen at L4 and L5 vertebra

4.Facetal Joint degenerative chnages seen at L4-l5



Intervertable disc:

Disc dehydration chnages seen in all lumbar and lower order disc.

Vaccuam phenomenone seen at L5-l5 level

l1-2: No siginificant disc bulge and herniation.

l2-l3: Diffuse disc bulge with mild comression on thecal sac and bilateral inter vertable foramina.No nerve root compression.

l3-l4: Diffuses disc bukge with moderate compression on thecal sac ,bilateral inter vertable and exit formonia and mild compression on exit L3 nerver root.

L5-4:Diffuse disc with moderate compression on thecal sac and bilateral inter veratble and exit formonia and mild compression on exit L4 nerve root.

L5-S1: Transitinal



Spinal canal:



Diameters with normal limits

Mild Ligamentum flavum hypotherpy seen at l3-4 and l4-5 levels.

Conus medullaris normal.

Pre and para soft tissus are normal.



regard,

fakaruddin Ali

Bangalore.