The segmental dorsal ramus neuropathy as a common cause of chronic and recurrent low back pain.

The causes of recurrent and chronic low back pain usually remain unknown. The dorsal ramus lesion was found in 57 of 200 low back pain patients in this study in L5 or L4 segment without any neurophysiologic or neuroradiologic evidence of proximal ventral root compression. The neuropathy of dorsal rami, especially in their medial branches seems to be surprisingly common finding associated with low back pain and referred symptoms.