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MR imaging of the lumbar spine: prevalence of intervertebral disk extrusion and sequestration, nerve root compression, end plate abnormalities, and osteoarthritis of the facet joints in asymptomatic volunteers

PainSci » bibliography » Weishaupt et al 1998
updated
Tags: back pain, arthritis, spine, pain problems, aging

Three articles on PainSci cite Weishaupt 1998: 1. The Complete Guide to Trigger Points & Myofascial Pain2. The Complete Guide to Low Back Pain3. Your Back Is Not Out of Alignment

PainSci notes on Weishaupt 1998:

This research found that an incredible 40% of asymptomatic adults had herniated discs, and 72% had signs of degeneration. The mean age of the sample of 60 adults was 35.

original abstract Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.

PURPOSE: To identify the magnetic resonance (MR) abnormalities of the lumbar spine that have a low prevalence in asymptomatic patients and thus determine the findings that are predictive of low back pain in symptomatic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal T1-weighted and sagittal and axial T2-weighted MR images were obtained in 60 asymptomatic volunteers aged 20-50 years. The MR images were evaluated with regard to intervertebral disk abnormalities, end plate abnormalities, and osteoarthritis of the facet joints by two musculoskeletal radiologists independently.

RESULTS: Disk bulging or disk protrusion was found in 42 (14%) and 48 (16%) of the intervertebral spaces in 37 (62%) and 40 (67%) subjects, respectively. High-signal-intensity zones were found commonly (in 23 [7.7%] and 25 [8.3%] of the intervertebral spaces in 19 (32%) and 20 (33%) subjects, respectively). Disk extrusions were less common (in 11 [3.7%] and 11 [3.7%] of the intervertebral spaces in 11 (18%) and 11 (18%) subjects, respectively). There were no disk sequestrations. A nerve root compression in a single intervertebral space was diagnosed by one reader. End plate abnormalities were found in two (0.7%) and six (1.9%) of the intervertebral spaces in two (3%) and six (10%) subjects, respectively. No severe osteoarthritis was diagnosed by either reader.

CONCLUSION: In patients younger than 50 years, disk extrusion and sequestration, nerve root compression, end plate abnormalities, and osteoarthritis of the facet joints are rare and, therefore, may be predictive of low back pain in symptomatic patients.

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