Degenerative Changes In Lumbar Spine Research Articles

The current state of radiodiagnostics of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine (literature review)

Examination of the spine using radiological methods remains the most frequently conducted study in the outpatient practice of almost any radiologist. In most cases, changes in the spine are degenerative and dystrophic in nature. These changes in the spine are the leading cause of loss of activity among adults and the elderly, and cover a wide range of age-related structural changes. It is of great importance to understand the possibilities and limitations of radiological methods of diagnostics. The description of morphological changes observed in degenerative and dystrophic changes requires the use of unified terminology and classifications among clinicians and radiologists.The aim. To present modern concepts in the assessment of degenerative changes of the spine using radiological methods. A description of the standardized international nomenclature of intervertebral disc pathology and current classifications of spinal canal stenosis are presented.Material and methods. For literature search, we used electronic databases MEDLINE (PubMed), eLibrary, EMBASE and Cochrane Library with a selection of sources published from 2000 to 2021. We analyzed the works devoted to the diagnosis of degenerative changes in lumbar spine and to degenerative stenosis.Conclusion. The key to productive communication between physicians is the uniformity or standardization of terminology and definitions used. It is important that the protocol of description, its terms, semantic expressions be uniform and understandable to specialists who are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of the spine. Magnetic resonance imaging is a valuable method in the diagnosis of degenerative changes of the spinal column, but it has its limitations.

Degenerative changes of lumbar spine and their clinical implications in patients with axial spondyloarthritis.

The objective of this study was to assess degenerative changes (DCs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of lumbar spine in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and non-specific mechanical low back pain (mLBP). Patients were consecutively recruited and all underwent MRI of the lumbar spine in this cross-sectional study. Disk degeneration (DD, Pfirrmann classification), endplate changes (Modic, types 1, 2, and 3), annular fissure, disk bulging, and protrusion or extrusion at each lumbar spinal level were assessed using anonymized images. Patients with axSpA were assessed for disease activity, functioning, and quality of life. Univariate and subsequent multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjustments of various covariates were used to assess association between MRI findings and clinical variables. One hundred twenty-three patients had non-radiographic (nr-axSpA) and 144 had radiographic axSpA/ankylosing spondylitis(AS). Degenerative changes were more prevalent in patients with mLBP (n = 105) than axSpA. Disk degeneration was the most prevalent MRI finding, followed by annular fissure, disk herniation (protrusion or extrusion), and Modic changes (MCs) in axSpA. Disk herniation was more prevalent in patients with nr-axSpA compared to AS. Modic changes (OR = 6.455), lumbar disk herniation (OR = 2.278), annular fissure (OR = 2.842), conventional synthetic or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) non-users (OR = 2.225), and advanced age (OR = 31.556) were factors associated with an increased risk of DD in axSpA. Coexisting DD increased the burden of disease in axSpA. A considerable proportion of patients with axSpA had DD at the lumbar spine. These degenerative changes might explain some of the complaints and should not been overlooked in patients with axSpA. Key Points • Lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (LHNP) is more frequent in nr-axSpA while MC is more frequent in AS. • DD may cause an increase in BASFI and BASMI scores in axSpA. • Spinal DCs might be an alternative explanation for low back complaintsand should not been overlooked in patients with axSpA.

Magnetic-resonance imaging under degenerative changes in lumbar spine: state of the art

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of lumbar spine is a very frequent examination in any computer tomography unit. However, there are still no scan standards or standards for scan interpretation in the world's medical community. In this article based on our experience we describe common problems encountered by a radiologist during MRI examination of lumbar spine and its subsequent description. The literature survey and analysis are presented with a summary of current recommendations. We examined routine sequences, which could be included in MRI protocol, discussed common terminology, and showed the incidence of different pathologies. The special emphasis is made on assessing lumbar canal stenosis. In this article we focus on qualitative and quantitative criteria of lumbar spinal stenosis.

Topical Phytotherapeutic Treatment: Management of Normalization of Elevated Levels of Biochemical Parameter During Osteoarthritic Disorders: A prospective Study

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase-muscle (CK-MM) and aldolase A (AldoA) levels are proven to be realistic biochemical markers of osteoarthritic disorders (OADs). The aim of this study is to normalize the elevated levels of CRP, CK-MM and AldoA during OADs of knee-joints and degenerative changes in lumbarspine by topical application of phytoconstituents with specialized techniques.

Evaluation of degenerative changes in lumbar spine by MRI in rural population

Evaluation of degenerative changes in lumbar spine by MRI in rural population

Degenerative changes in Lumbar spine on MRI: A retrospective study

Introduction: The widespread prevalence of patients complaining of backache has resulted in Spine as the most frequently requested neuroimaging examinations. Various imaging modalities like X-ray, myelography, discography and CT scan have been used to study the cause of backache in the past. However with the advent of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), revolutionary changes have occurred in the study and management of degenerative spinal diseases due to its superior soft tissue contrast resolution and its ability to define the anatomy, underlying pathophysiology and biomechanics of degenerative disc disease. Method: The present study is a MRI based retrospective study, conducted on 100 patients of lower backache segregated on the basis of age and level of lumbar spine involvement. Result: MRI findings suggested that maximum number of patients with complaint of lower backache refererred for MRI belonged to 40-60 years age group with most earliest and most frequent degenerative changes found to be in the intervertebral disc with maximum affection at L4-5 level followed by L5-S1 level. Conclusion: MRI has emerged as a non invasive multiplanar imaging modality with a superior soft tissue contrast resolution which can better define degenerative changes in the spine. In our study the earliest and most frequent degenerative changes were found to be in the intervertebral disc with maximum affection at L4-5 level.

MRI features of the psoas major muscle in patients with low back pain

The purpose was to investigate the changes of the psoas major muscles (PM) cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration in the PM and to investigate the association between the morphology of the PM and expression of the degenerative changes of lumbar spine in patients with low back pain (LBP). T2-weighted scans for measurements of the CSA and analysis of fat infiltration were performed on 42 patients and 49 controls using a 1.5 Tesla MR system. For a quantitative analysis of fat tissue infiltration a 4-grade visual scale was used. Patients had bigger CSA of the PM than controls at the levels of L3/L4 and L4/L5 intervertebral disc (P < 0.05). Patients with apparent degenerative changes of the lumbar spine had smaller CSA of the PM compared to the patients without apparent changes at the levels of L3/L4 and L4/L5 (P < 0.05). At the levels of L4/L5 and L5/S1 patients with present Modic changes in the lumbar vertebral bodies showed smaller CSA of the PM compared to the patients without Modic changes (P < 0.05). However, CSA of the PM in the patients with degenerative changes of lumbar spine and Modic changes was still bigger than the one of the controls. At all analyzed levels correlation between CSAs of the PM and fat infiltration of the lumbar paraspinal muscles was negative. Results suggest increased activity of the PM in LBP patients but PM also remains active regardless of the presence of degenerative and Modic changes of the lumbar spine.