ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the correlation between lumbar physiological curvature and Pfirrmann grading of lumbar intervertebral disc in young patients with lower lumbar pain.Methods 1 1 1 cases with lower lumbar pain were analyzed retrospectively by lumbar MRI examination.The MRI image was reviewed by two radiologists,and the degree of lumbar physiological curvature and lumbar disc degeneration were observed.Chi square test was applied to the statistical results.Results Final analysis was performed on 300 discs in 60 cases of patients with lumbar physiological curvature straightening.Among them,209 were grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ(70%),45 grade Ⅲ(15%),35 grade Ⅳ(11%)and 11 grade Ⅴ(4%)in Pfirrmann grading.In total of 255 discs of 51 cases with normal physiological curvature of the spine,there were 212 (83%)of Pfirrmann grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ,22 of grade Ⅲ(9%),19 of grade Ⅳ(7%)and 2 of grade Ⅴ(1 %).There was statistical difference between the lumbar physiological curvature straightening and the normal lumbar physiological curvature group (P< 0.05).The proportions of degeneration of Ⅰ-Ⅱ in the lumbar physiological curvature group was lower than that in normal lumbar curvature group,while the proportions of gradeⅢ,ⅣandⅤdegeneration in the lumbar physiological curvature group were higher than that in normal lumbar curvature group.Conclusion Stratification lumbar physiologic curvature is an important factor for lumbar disc degeneration and easy to cause Pfirrmann gradeⅣ-Ⅴdegeneration in young patients.