Spine is an important column that carry burden in daily life. This complex structure, which can carry burden and has static and dynamic features and capabilities, is evaluated in horizontal position with conventional MRG (magnetic resonance imaging). This situation does not overlap with the projection of daily usage of the spinal column. The purpose of this study is to respond the question of “Can similar results as standing MRG be got with the conventional horizontal MRG systems?”

We have performed the comparison of classic MRG images of 10 patients, who has back pain only when standing, in the horizontal position between November 2008 and March 2009, with the MRG images repeated in the position that axial compression and traction are applied. Ten patient’s front-back diameters of the inner channel in the horizontal position, traction and with compression application, and spondylolistesis grades and height loss between vertebrae were evaluated. In the 20 % of the patients, anterior translation was determined, and changing disc height and spinal canal comprimise were also stated in all patients.

It is shown that the axial compression and traction application’s horizontal MRG reviews are beneficial in the understanding of pathology that cannot be exposed by the classical methods, evaluation of instability and the determination of surgical indication.

Keywords: Spinal instability, magnetic resonance imaging, traction, compression