Disc degeneration in stressed and nonstressed segments of lumbar spine
| Baseline Degeneration | Progressive Degeneration | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stressed Discs | Control Discs | Stressed Discs | Control Discs | |
| Annular fissurea,b | 0.76 ± 0.35 | 0.37 ± 0.48 | 0.07 ± 0.18 | 0.05 ± 0.22 |
| 37 (88.1) | 16 (38.1) | 6 (14.3) | 2 (4.9) | |
| Radial fissurea,b | 0.59 ± 0.43 | 0.17 ± 0.38 | 0.07 ± 0.18 | 0.05 ± 0.22 |
| 30 (71.4) | 8 (19.1) | 6 (14.3) | 2 (4.9) | |
| Herniationa,b | 0.07 ± 0.20 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.01 ± 0.08 | 0.00 ± 0.00 |
| 5 (11.9) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (2.4) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Nuclear degenerationa,b,c | 0.13 ± 0.30 | 0.05 ± 0.22 | 0.10 ± 0.28 | 0.00 ± 0.00 |
| 8 (19.1) | 2 (4.8) | 5 (11.9) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Nuclear SI lossa,b,d | 0.39 ± 0.42 | 0.12 ± 0.33 | 0.17 ± 0.48 | 0.00 ± 0.00 |
| 22 (52.4) | 5 (11.9) | 6 (14.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
| EPDa,b | 0.11 ± 0.24 | 0.12 ± 0.33 | 0.00 ± 0.00 | 0.00 ± 0.00 |
| 8 (19.1) | 5 (11.9) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | |
Note:—EPD indicates endplate burden; SI, signal intensity.
↵a Burden (mean ± SD) of degenerative parameter calculated on per disc basis.
↵b Number (%) of patients with specified degenerative parameters in stressed or control segments of lumbar spine; “Baseline Degeneration” refers to changes on MR scan obtained at the time of presentation and “Progressive Degeneration” refers to appearance of new changes noted on a follow-up MR scan obtained >6 months later.
↵c Defined as discs graded higher than 2 on Pfirrmann grading system.
↵d Discs graded higher than 1 on a 6-point scale based on SI on T2-weighted images indicating any loss of normal hyperintense signal.