Multifidus Muscles Lipid Content Is Associated with Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: A Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
- Author:
Izaya OGON
1
;
Tsuneo TAKEBAYASHI
;
Hiroyuki TAKASHIMA
;
Tomonori MORITA
;
Tsutomu OSHIGIRI
;
Yoshinori TERASHIMA
;
Mitsunori YOSHIMOTO
;
Toshihiko YAMASHITA
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Paraspinal muscle; Intervertebral disc; Low back pains; Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
- MeSH: Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Female; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Intervertebral Disc; Linear Models; Low Back Pain; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Muscles; Paraspinal Muscles
- From:Asian Spine Journal 2019;13(4):601-607
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: To determine the association between fatty degeneration of the multifidus muscle (Mm) and intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Few studies have reported on quantitative MRI analysis of the relation between the Mm and IVDD. METHODS: The subjects with chronic low back pain comprised 45 patients (19 males, 26 females; mean age, 63.8±2.0 years; range, 41–79 years). We analyzed the intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipids (EMCL) of the Mm using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The T2 values of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus (NP), and posterior AF were evaluated using MRI T2 mapping. We compared the possible correlations of IMCL and EMCL of the Mm with the T2 values of anterior AF, NP, and posterior AF. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation between IMCL and T2 values of the anterior AF (r=−0.65, p<0.01). There were no significant correlations between the IMCL and T2 values of NP (r=−0.16, p=0.30) and posterior AF (r=0.07, p=0.62). There were no significant correlations between the EMCL and T2 values of the anterior AF (r=−0.11, p=0.46), NP (r=0.15, p=0.32), and posterior AF (r=0.07, p=0.66). After adjustment for age and sex using multiple linear regression analysis, there was a significant negative correlation between the IMCL and T2 values of anterior AF (standardized partial regression coefficient=−0.65, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that IMCL of the Mm might be accompanied with anterior AF degeneration. Therapeutic exercises using IMCL of the Mm as evaluation index might have the potential to identify novel targets for the treatment and prevention of IVDD.