Relationship between MR findings of anterior lumbar elements and chronic low back pain

Objective To investigate the relationship between the MR findings of anterior lumbar elements and chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods Of 521 questionnaires sent to patients who underwent lumbar MRI from August 1 2011 to January 15 2012 for low back pain, 386 were useful. 139 of these 386 patients with CLBP were enrolled and divided into a group of 68 patients with nerve root compression and a group of 71 patients without nerve root compression. 62 hospital staff without low back pain and nerve root compression was recruited as control. The MRI findings including average disk degeneration(ADD) scores, high-intensity zones (HIZ), Schmorl's nodes, and Modic I change were analyzed. Results The ADD scores and the incidence of Modic I change in the patients with (2.20, 22.1%) and without (2.00, 22.5%) nerve root compression were similar (P> 0.05) and significantly (P<0.01) higher than that of the control group (1.40, 4.8%). There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in the incidences of Schmorl's nodes among the three groups (17.6%, 18.3%, 14.5%). The incidence of HIZ was significantly (P<0.01) higher in patients with nerve root compression (52.9%) than that of control (25.8%) and not significantly different (P>0.05) from that of patients without nerve root compression (39.4%). Conclusion ADD scores and Modic I changes are associated with severity of CLBP. (authors)