Degeneration of paraspinal muscles in degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with or without spondylolisthesis and its correlation with degeneration of lumbar facet joints
10.3760/cma.j.cn121113-20240523-00310
- VernacularTitle:退行性腰椎椎管狭窄伴或不伴腰椎滑脱患者椎旁肌退变的差异及其与关节突关节退变的相关性
- Author:
Zexiang ZHONG
1
;
Xinhua ZHOU
;
Yafeng JI
;
Xinxing FAN
;
Xiongfeng LI
;
Xuesheng JIANG
;
Qian LU
Author Information
1. 湖州市中心医院骨科（湖州市骨科基础与临床转化重点实验室），湖州 313000
- Keywords:
Lumbar vertebrae;
Spinal stenosis;
Spondylolysis;
Paraspinal muscles;
Zygapophyseal joint
- From:
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics
2024;44(20):1331-1338
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To analyze the differences in paraspinal muscles between patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) with or without spondylolisthesis and to assess the correlation between these differences and lumbar facet joint degeneration.Methods:The data of 68 patients with DLSS who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from January 2021 to April 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. Of these, 22 were male (32.4%) and 46 were female (67.6%), with an average age of 69.7±5.9 years (range: 56-80 years). The DLSS group included 35 patients without spondylolisthesis [13 males (37.1%) and 22 females (62.9%)], average age 68.5±5.9 years (range: 56-80 years), while the DLSS+degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) group included 33 patients with spondylolisthesis [9 males (27.3%) and 24 females (72.7%)], average age 70.9±5.7 years (range: 58-80 years). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the L 3-S 1 intervertebral disc levels were collected from all patients. Using ImageJ software, the cross-sectional area (CSA) and percentage of fat infiltration area (FIA%) of the erector spinae and multifidus muscles were measured. Additionally, the facet joint angle (FJA), facet overhang (FO), and facet effusion (FE) were evaluated using Surgimap software, and their correlation with CSA and FIA% of the paraspinal muscles was analyzed. Results:The FJA and FO in the DLSS+DS group (50.16°±11.08° and 7.67±2.25 mm) were significantly larger than those in the DLSS group (43.51°± 7.75° and 3.88±1.98 mm) ( P<0.05). However, differences in FE between the two groups were not statistically significant. The cross-sectional areas of the multifidus muscles at L 3, 4, L 4, 5, and L 5S 1 in the DLSS+DS group (576.66±112.70 mm 2,, 782.72±141.49 mm 2, and 817.88±185.22 mm 2,, respectively) were significantly smaller than those in the DLSS group (647.37±165.44 mm 2,, 881.20±202.10 mm 2,, and 995.06±211.25 mm 2,, respectively) ( P<0.05). The FIA% of the erector spinae at L 3, 4, L 4, 5, and L 5S 1 in the DLSS+DS group (11.47%±5.14%, 14.84%±6.15%, 20.82%±7.41%) were significantly higher than those in the DLSS group (6.27%±2.83%, 10.81%±4.84%, 16.17%±5.88%) ( P<0.05). Similarly, the FIA% of the multifidus muscles at L 3, 4, L 4, 5, and L 5S 1 in the DLSS+DS group (18.04%±5.88%, 19.67%±5.78%, 19.31%±8.61%) were significantly higher than those in the DLSS group (9.85%±4.39%, 12.27%±3.70%, 14.65%±3.82%) ( P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the CSA of the erector spinae at these levels between the two groups. The CSA of the multifidus muscles at L 3, 4, L 4, 5, and L 5S 1 in both groups were negatively correlated with FJA and FO ( r=-0.318, P=0.008; r=-0.381, P=0.001; r=-0.439, P<0.001; r=-0.290, P=0.016; r=-0.315, P=0.009; r=-0.479, P<0.001). The FIA% of the erector spinae at L 3, 4, L 4, 5, and the multifidus muscles at L 4, 5 and L 5S 1 were positively correlated with FJA ( r=0.352, P=0.003; r=0.344, P=0.004; r=0.300, P=0.013; r=0.359, P=0.003). Additionally, the FIA% of the erector spinae at L 3, 4, L 4, 5, and L 5S 1, and the multifidus muscles at L 3, 4 and L 4, 5 were positively correlated with FO ( r=0.409, P=0.001; r=0.248, P=0.042; r=0.277, P=0.022; r=0.500, P<0.001; r=0.447, P<0.001). There was no correlation between FE and CSA or FIA% of the erector spinae and multifidus muscles at L 3, 4, L 4, 5, and L 5S 1 in either group. Furthermore, FJA was positively correlated with FO ( r=0.369, P=0.002), but no correlation was observed between FE and FJA or FO. Conclusion:Compared to patients with lumbar spinal stenosis, those with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis with spondylolisthesis exhibit more severe paraspinal muscle atrophy, a more sagittal orientation of the facet joints, and a higher degree of facet joint osteoarthritis. Patients with larger FJA and FO show more severe paraspinal muscle atrophy.
