What Can a Back X-Ray Detect? Common Spine Conditions Explained

A back X-ray helps doctors visualise the spinal structure and identify injuries, abnormalities and disorders that cause neck or back pain. It’s a non-invasive test that uses a small amount of radiation to get these images.

This article aims to understand what a back X-ray is, its types and the spinal conditions it can help diagnose.

What Is a Back X-ray?

A back X-ray (Spine X-ray) is a non-invasive diagnostic test that captures detailed images of the spinal column. It helps in detecting causes of back pain, trauma or any suspected spinal condition. In this test, a small amount of radiation (X-rays) passes through the body to a photographic film or coated plates on which the back X-ray is obtained.

The solid structures in the body, like bones or tumours, absorb more of this radiation and thus appear white in the X-ray image. Soft tissues like skin, organs and muscles cannot absorb X-rays and allow them to pass through, which is why they appear dark grey on the X-ray film.

What Are the Types of Back X-Rays?

A person may have a full back X-ray that captures images of the entire spine in one or more continuous shots, or a specific spinal section. These include the following.

1. Cervical Spine X-Ray: This captures the images of the seven vertebrae that make up the neck.
2. Thoracic Spine X-Ray: This captures images of the 12 vertebrae in the upper and mid back.
3. Lumbosacral Spine X-Ray: Also known as a lower back X-ray, this captures the images of the five vertebrae that make up the lower back.
4. Sacrum / Coccyx X-Ray: The sacrum is located just above the tailbone and consists of five small fused vertebrae. Coccyx is the medical name for the tailbone, made up of four fused vertebrae at the base of the spine. Sacrum or Coccyx X-ray captures images of these vertebrae.

What Spinal Conditions are Detected in a Back X-Ray?

A back X-ray provides information about conditions or abnormalities that affect the back and neck. These include the following.

1. Fractures: A break in any of the 33 vertebrae that can result from traumas like car accidents. A spinal fracture can be a compression fracture, which is a small crack in a vertebra; a burst fracture, where the spine breaks into many pieces due to sudden compression from a strong force; or a chance fracture, where vertebrae are pulled away from each other.
2. Arthritis: A disease that affects joints and causes pain, stiffness and inflammation. In the spine, arthritis commonly affects the lower back.
3. Osteoporosis is a silent disease that weakens the bones by making them thinner and less dense. It commonly affects the spine and increases its risk of fractures.
4. Spinal Tumours: A spinal tumour is an abnormal growth of cells in or along the spinal column, including the vertebrae, spinal cord and the tissues surrounding the spinal cord. It mostly results from the spread of cancer from another body area to the spine.
5. Slipped Disk: A slipped disk is also known as a herniated disk. In this, the round cushion between the vertebrae is displaced due to wear and tear or injury, putting pressure on the spinal cord. This irritates the spinal nerves and causes pain, numbness or weakness in the neck, back or legs.
6. Spinal Curvature Deformities: Spinal curvatures deformities cause it to misalign or be exaggerated in certain areas. These include scoliosis, lordosis (swayback), and kyphosis (hunchback).
7. Congenital Spine Deformities: These are vertebral deformities that develop before birth and cause spinal misalignment.

A spine X-ray can help identify injuries, abnormalities or disorders that affect the neck or back. Dr Lal PathLabs offers professional radiology services for anyone searching for a back X-ray near me in Delhi-NCR. A spine test can now be conveniently scheduled with the Dr Lal Pathlab app. Download the Dr Lal PathLabs app now!

FAQs

1. How is a spinal X-ray done?
   A spinal x-ray is a non-invasive test in which a small amount of radiation passes through the spine, and the resulting images are captured on photographic film.
2. Is it worth getting an X-ray for back pain?
   An X-ray is not required for normal back pain, but a doctor may recommend it when the pain results from an injury or trauma.