Correlation between multifidus muscle cross-sectional area, fat index and facet joint degeneration grading
10.3760/cma.j.cn101721-20241211-00429
- VernacularTitle:多裂肌横截面积和FI与腰椎FJD分级的相关性
- Author:
Feng WANG
1
;
Guogang DAI
1
;
Wanli DU
1
;
Junrong CHEN
1
;
Yuewen LI
1
Author Information
1. 四川省骨科医院颈肩腰腿痛2科，成都 610041
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Facet joint degeneration;
Multifidus muscle cross-sectional area;
fatty infiltration;
Weishaupt grading;
Magnetic resonance imaging
- From:
Clinical Medicine of China
2025;41(5):353-358
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the correlation between multifidus muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), fat infiltration index (FI), and the grading of lumbar facet joint degeneration (FJD).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 105 patients with lumbar FJD treated at Sichuan Orthopaedic Hospital between January 2015 and December 2020. Patients were divided into three groups according to the Weishaupt grading system: 37 cases with Weishaupt grade 1 (Mild Group), 44 cases with Weishaupt grade 2 (Moderate Group), and 24 cases with Weishaupt grade 3 (Severe Group). Baseline characteristics [sex, age, body mass index (BMI), treatment duration], pathological features at initial diagnosis [segmental distribution, bone mineral density (BMD) T-score, facet joint asymmetry, endplate morphology, Modic classification, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score], and multifidus muscle MRI findings [multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration index (FI)] were compared among the three groups. The correlation between lumbar multifidus CSA, FI, and FJD grade was analyzed. Normally distributed measurement data were expressed as xˉ± s; comparisons among multiple groups were performed by one-way ANOVA, pairwise comparisons were performed by LSD- t tests. Counting data were expressed as case (%) and compared by χ2 test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between lumbar multifidus MRI parameters and FJD grade. Results:There were no statistically significant differences among the three FJD groups in sex, age, BMI, treatment duration, segmental distribution, BMD T-score, proportion of facet joint asymmetry, endplate morphology, Modic classification, ODI, or JOA score (all P>0.05). At the L4-5 level, the multifidus CSA on the affected side in the severe group was significantly smaller than in the moderate group and mild group [(6.2±1.2) cm2 vs. (7.0±1.1) cm2 vs. (7.8±1.2) cm2], and the CSA in the moderate group was smaller than in the mild group (all P<0.05). At both the L4-5 and L5-S1 levels, the FI on the affected side in the severe group was significantly greater than in the moderate group and mild group [(0.48±0.12) vs. (0.39±0.15) vs. (0.29±0.10) at L4-5; (0.49±0.12) vs. (0.41±0.10) vs. (0.30±0.13) at L5-S1], and the FI in the moderate group was greater than in the mild group (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that at the L4-5 level, multifidus CSA on the affected side was negatively correlated with FJD grade ( r=-0.41, P=0.004). At the L5-S1 level, FI on the affected side was positively correlated with FJD grade ( r=0.58, P<0.001). Conclusion:The CSA and FI of the multifidus muscle on the affected side in the lumbar spine exhibit significant correlations with the severity of FJD grading. Clinically, early functional exercises can be implemented based on the degree of multifidus muscle degeneration observed in patients.
