MRI comparison of lumbar facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with low back pain

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2015.46.005

Abstract

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: During spinal degeneration process, the intervertebral disc and facet joints are interrelated and interacted to impact the normal function and stability of the spine, thereby resulting in low back pain. Moreover, there is always a controversy on the degeneration order of the intervertebral disc and facet joint.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between lumbar facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with low back pain.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 186 patients with low back pain. The facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration at L₂-S₁ motion segments of each patient were evaluated. Enrolled patients were divided into three age groups: < 40 years old, 40-60 years old and ≥ 60 years old.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The incidence of lumbar facet joint and intervertebral disc degeneration was increased with age, and degeneration of the lumbar facet joint and intervertebral disc were the most obvious at L_4-5 and L₅-S₁ segments. The incidence of intervertebral disc degeneration was more than that of facet joint degeneration at each segment in all age groups, except groups of < 40 years old and 40-60 years old at L₂_-₃ segments, but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). There was a weak correlation between facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration (χ²=100.9, P < 0.001, gamma=0.22). These findings show that the incidence of intervertebral disc degeneration and facet joint degeneration is increased with age, and there is a weak correlation between them. However, the lumbar degenerative order is still unclear and further research is needed.
中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程

Key words: Lumbar Vertebrae, Intervertebral Disk, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Tissue Engineering

Fu Chang-lin, Zhang Bin, Liu Yuan, Dai Min, Zhou Xin, Fu Xiao-xing. MRI comparison of lumbar facet joint degeneration and intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with low back pain[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2015, 19(46): 7401-7405.

Figures/Tables 4

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