Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Low-Back Pain

Dear Colleagues,

Low back pain remains a leading cause of disability worldwide, demanding precise diagnosis and targeted therapy. This Special Issue invites contributions that integrate advanced imaging with image-guided interventions to optimize outcomes in subacute and chronic pain. We welcome studies that refine MRI- and CT-based phenotyping to distinguish radicular from non-radicular sources (e.g., disk–nerve conflict, foraminal/central stenosis, and the contextual interpretation of Modic/endplate changes) and that define imaging criteria for patient selection.On the interventional side, we seek original research, reviews, and technical notes on epidural and periradicular injections, selective nerve root blocks for diagnostic/therapeutic targeting, facet and sacroiliac joint procedures with medial branch radiofrequency ablation, and vertebral augmentation for painful compression fractures. We particularly encourage submissions on emerging or evolving techniques, such as basivertebral nerve ablation, percutaneous disk decompression (laser or coblation), and minimally invasive lumbar decompression (MILD), including safety, comparative effectiveness, and pragmatic selection algorithms. We also welcome studies that make imaging reports clearer and easier to use in everyday practice, building sensible care pathways that avoid cascade testing and unnecessary medications. Our goal is to provide a practical, evidence-based roadmap that aligns imaging, intervention, and meaningful outcomes for individualized management of low-back pain.

Dr. Raffaele Natella
Dr. Federico Bruno
Dr. Daniele Giuseppe Romano
Guest Editors

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