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Published in: MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY 2/2015

01-08-2015 | Original Article

Lumbar subcutaneous edema and degenerative spinal disease in patients with low back pain: a retrospective MRI study

Authors: C. C. Quattrocchi, A. Giona, A. Di Martino, F. Gaudino, C. A. Mallio, Y. Errante, F. Occhicone, M. A. Vitali, B. B. Zobel, V. Denaro

Published in: MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY | Issue 2/2015

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to determine the association between LSE, spondylolisthesis, facet arthropathy, lumbar canal stenosis, BMI, radiculopathy and bone marrow edema at conventional lumbar spine MR imaging.

Methods

This is a retrospective radiological study; 441 consecutive patients with low back pain (224 men and 217 women; mean age 57.3 years; mean BMI 26) underwent conventional lumbar MRI using a 1.5-T magnet (Avanto, Siemens). Lumbar MR images were reviewed by consensus for the presence of LSE, spondylolisthesis, facet arthropathy, lumbar canal stenosis, radiculopathy and bone marrow edema. Descriptive statistics and association studies were conducted using STATA software 11.0. Association studies have been performed using linear univariate regression analysis and multivariate regression analysis, considering LSE as response variable.

Results

The overall prevalence of LSE was 40 %; spondylolisthesis (p = 0.01), facet arthropathy (p < 0.001), BMI (p = 0.008) and lumbar canal stenosis (p < 0.001) were included in the multivariate regression model, whereas bone marrow edema, radiculopathy and age were not.

Conclusions

LSE is highly associated with spondylolisthesis, facet arthropathy and BMI, suggesting underestimation of its clinical impact as an integral component in chronic lumbar back pain. Longitudinal simultaneous X-ray/MRI studies should be conducted to test the relationship of LSE with lumbar spinal instability and low back pain.
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Metadata
Title
Lumbar subcutaneous edema and degenerative spinal disease in patients with low back pain: a retrospective MRI study
Authors
C. C. Quattrocchi
A. Giona
A. Di Martino
F. Gaudino
C. A. Mallio
Y. Errante
F. Occhicone
M. A. Vitali
B. B. Zobel
V. Denaro
Publication date
01-08-2015
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
MUSCULOSKELETAL SURGERY / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 2035-5106
Electronic ISSN: 2035-5114
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12306-015-0355-2

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