Association of Modic Changes, Schmorlʼs Nodes, Spondylolytic Defects, High-Intensity Zone Lesions, Disc Herniations, and Radial Tears With Low Back Symptom Severity Among Young Finnish Adults

• DOI: 10.1097/brs.0b013e3182443855
• Publication Date: 2011-12-14T11:58:21Z
• Authors: Jani Takatalo; Jaro Karppinen; Jaakko Niinimäki; Simo Taimela; Pertti Mutanen; Roberto Blanco Se...; Simo Näyhä; Marjo-Riitta Järv...; Eero Kyllönen; Osmo Tervonen
• Keywords: Modic changes; Back Pain

In Brief Study Design. A cross-sectional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. Objective. We investigated the association among Modic changes, Schmorl's nodes, spondylolytic defects, high-intensity zone lesions, radial tears, herniations, and low back symptom severity. Summary of Background Data. Disc degeneration is associated with pain in early adulthood, but associations between other MRI findings are not well known. Methods. Questionnaire data scans (1.5-T) were available for 554 subjects derived from a birth cohort at 21 years age. Data on back-related functional limitations 18, 19, age used clustering subjects, using latent class analysis. logistic regression adjustment degree disc to evaluate specific Results. The prevalence herniations was 20%, nodes 17%, tears 9.9%, lesions 3.2%, defects 5.8%, changes 0.7%. Latent analysis produced 5 clusters: "Always Painful" (n = 65) meant painful all time points "Recent Onset Pain" 56) increasing severity, whereas "Moderately 73), "Minor 193), "No 167) clusters had fewer symptoms. Compared cluster, more likely occur cluster (P 0.017) 3 most < 0.001). Herniations severity (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–4.4). symptoms crude analyses only, occurred similar frequencies clusters. Conclusion. recent onset or persistent (3-yr period) symptoms, although they also detected no clinical relevance remains be evaluated context Lumbar found frequent young adults (3-year indicating an independent role irrespective degeneration,