1.Relevance between Schmorl’s Node and Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Quantified with Magnetic Resonance Imaging T2 Mapping in Chronic Low Back Pain
Izaya OGON ; Hiroyuki TAKASHIMA ; Tomonori MORITA ; Tsutomu OSHIGIRI ; Yoshinori TERASHIMA ; Mitsunori YOSHIMOTO ; Ryunosuke FUKUSHI ; Shutaro FUJIMOTO ; Makoto EMORI ; Atsushi TERAMOTO ; Tsuneo TAKEBAYASHI ; Toshihiko YAMASHITA
Asian Spine Journal 2020;14(5):621-628
Methods:
A total of 105 subjects were included (48 men and 57 women; mean age, 63.2±2.7 years; range, 22–84 years). We analyzed five functional spinal unit levels (L1–S1) and evaluated the T2 values of the anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus, and posterior AF. We compared the low back pain (LBP) Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores and the T2 values in each decade with or without SN.
Results:
There were no remarkable differences in SN prevalence rate regarding age decade or gender. SNs were more prevalent in the upper 2 levels (70.3%). LBP VAS scores with and without SN were 64.7±4.3 mm and 61.9±2.8 mm, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups (p =0.62). The T2 values of anterior AF with SN were significantly lower than those without SN in patients in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s (p <0.01).
Conclusions
SN presence is not itself a risk factor for CLBP; however, it indicates IVDD of the anterior AF in subjects with SN who are ≥50 years old.