Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2011, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (13): 2446-2449.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2011.13.039

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Characteristics of Modic changes in the cervical spine and its relationship with cervical degeneration

Li Ji-gang, Yang Hui-lin, Zhu Ruo-fu , Zhang Lei   

  1. Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou  215006, Jiangsu Province, China
  • Received:2010-11-16 Revised:2011-01-17 Online:2011-03-26 Published:2013-10-23
  • Contact: Yang Hui-lin, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
  • About author:Li Ji-gang, Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China Maomao102784@126.com

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The distribution and characteristics of Modic changes in lumbar spine have been described, but there are few studies focusing on Modic changes in the cervical spine
OBJECTIVE: To report on the prevalence, types, distribution of Modic changes and its relationship with cervical degeneration found in the cervical spine.
METHODS: From 1 187 cases in the year 2009, 200 patients aged 20-83 years, randomly selected cervical spine MRI and X-ray were viewed. Data were recorded for patient age, patient sex, and the presence or absence of Modic changes, then the specific Modic type and the precise vertebral levels and location of these changes were recorded. The prevalence of Modic changes on sex, age, segment, grade of intervertebral disc degeneration, disc height and cervical curve was analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Among 1 200 intervertebral discs of 200 patients, 23 (11.5%) patients with 29 (2.4%) intervertebral discs were involved with Modic changes. Eight (4%) cases with 10 (0.8%) discs were diagnosed as type Ⅰ; 13 (6.5%) cases with 16 (1.3%) discs were type Ⅱ; 2 (1%) cases with 3 (0.25%) discs were type Ⅲ. According to the segment, the lesions involved C2/3 for 0 (0%), C3/4 for 4 (0.33%), C4/5 for 6 (0.5%), C5/6 for 12 (1%), C6/7 for 7 (0.58%), C7/T1 for 0 (0%). These findings demonstrated that Modic changes are observed in the cervical spine, with the C5/6 level being the most commonly involved. Like in the lumbar spine in which Modic type Ⅱ changes predominate, type Ⅱ is the most, type Ⅲ is the least. They are far more common in the posterior area of the endplate. Modic changes are distributed mainly over the age of 50, which are correlated with ages, grade of disc degeneration, disc level, disc height and cervical curve.

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