Objectives This study was performed to investigate the radiopathological findings based on plain radiographic examinations of patients with low back pain.

Methods In the present study, we have examined 747 patients, with a mean age of 47.97 years, 488 (65.32%) were women and 259 (34.67%) were men. Plain antero-posterior and lateral lumbosacral vertebrae radiographes were obtained from the patients and were examined in regard to the presence of congenital abnormalities (sacralisation, lumbarisation, spina bifida), lumbar degenerative disc disease, spondylolisthesis and osteoporosis. Kellgren-Lawrence’s scoring system was used to assess the presence of degenerative disc disease. Increased vertebral radiolucency, accentuation of vertebral endplates and prominence of vertical trabeculae due to relative loss of horizontal trabeculae were accepted as radiological findings of osteoporosis.

Results It was found that degenerative disc disease (29.58%) was the most frequently encountered radiopathological finding, followed by osteoporosis (23.3%) and congenital abnormalities (21.15%). Spondylolisthesis (6.02%) was relatively rare. The most common congenital abnormality was sacralisation (17.67%). Degenerative disc disease was most frequently seen at L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. When the radiopathological findings were analysed according to sex distribution, there was no significant difference between women and men, except for osteoporosis.

Conclusion The results of this study showed that degenerative disc disease was the most frequently seen radiopathological finding, followed by osteoporosis, congenital abnormalities and spondylolisthesis in patients with low back pain.