[Radiological assessment of loss of disk height in acute and chronic degenerative lumbar disk changes].

Abstract

AIM OF THE STUDY:

A loss of disc height with increasing segmental mobility is an important reason for low back pain. The measurement of hyaluronic acid content of the nucleus pulposus prolaps shows a difference between acute (group 1) and chronic (group 2) disc degeneration. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the decreasing of disc height between these two groups and the not-symptomatic segments of these patients.

METHODS:

20 human lateral preoperative X-rays measurements according to Frobin et al. [1] were taken; group 1 with 7 patients (mean age 41 years) and group 2 with 13 patients (mean age 44 years).

RESULTS:

There was a significant tendency (p = 0.091) to a reduction of disc height in group 2 between symptomatic and asymptomatic discs.

CONCLUSION:

The used method is not suitable to answer the present question conclusively.

• Authors: J Zöllner, R Löw, T Sancaktaroglu, B Nafe, P Eysel
• Journal: RoFo : Fortschritte auf dem Gebiete der Rontgenstrahlen und der Nuklearmedizin (Rofo) Vol. 173 Issue 3 Pg. 187-90 (Mar 2001) ISSN: 1438-9029 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Radiologische Beurteilung der segmentalen Höhenabnahme bei akuten und chronisch degenerativen lumbalen Bandscheibenveränderungen.
• PMID: 11293857 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Intervertebral Disc (diagnostic imaging)
• Intervertebral Disc Displacement (diagnostic imaging)
• Low Back Pain (etiology)
• Lumbar Vertebrae (diagnostic imaging)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radiography
• Sex Factors