Relationship between lumbar multifidus muscles and degeneration of facet joint with MRI / 实用医学杂志

Objectives To investigate the relationship between the degeneration of lumbar multifidus mus-cles and facet joint osteoarthritis(FJOA)by MRI. Methods This retrospective study included 248 patients with low back and leg pain,aged from 55 to 70.MRI was used to measure TCSA,FCSA,fCSA and FI% of the L4~5and L5~S1segments on the both sides of their multifidus muscle in the cross section in T2weighted image.All the cases were divided into three grades:grade 0~1,grade 2 and grade 3 according to their FJOA grades. The relationship between the FJOA grades at the same level and TCSA,FCSA and FI% of both sides was analyzed retrospectively. Results There were significant differences of the FI% of the multifidus muscle between both sides of the two seg-ments(P < 0.05);The TCSA,FCSA and fCSA of the left and right multifidus muscle all showed an increasing trend from L4~5to L5~S1segment and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);the FI% of two sides of multifidus muscle was negatively correlated with the right FJOA grade at L5~S1segment(P<0.05).There was a re-lationship between females and right FJOA grade at L5~S1segment(all P < 0.05). Whereas,no significant differ-ence was found in other parameters(all P>0.05).Conclusions There is no relationship between the cross-sec-tional area of the multifidus muscle and the FJOA grade. The higher FI% degree of multifidus muscle in the L5~S1 segment is accompanied with a lower grade of FJOA.The degeneration of multifidus muscle occurs earlier than the degeneration of articular process joints,so the earlier exercise of lumbar muscle is recommended.

Distribution characteristics of the medial branch of the posterior branch of the spinal nerves around the lumbar facet joints and its clinical significance / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To examine the distribution characteristics the medial branch of the posterior branch of the spinal nerves around the lumbar facet joints, so as to explore the localization and targeting of the medial branch of the posterior branch in neurectomy.MethodsFive corpses were dissected, and the anatomical relationships between the medial branches of the posterior branch of the spinal nerves and the facet joints were examined.Measured the distances from the lateral port of the bone fiber tube,the articular process of the facet joint and the superior articular process to the spinous processes.Results The medial branch of the posterior branch of the spinal nerve was close to the root of the articular process and the transverse process,which was not easy to be explored and dissected.Meanwhile, it was easily traced after the medial branch of the posterior branch of the spinal nerve ran through the fibrous tube.Conclusion It may improve the safety and effective when the techniques of medial branch block is performed after the medial branch ran through the fibrous tube.

Radiographic Parameters of Segmental Instability in Lumbar Spine Using Kinetic MRI

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of radiographic parameters on segmental instability in the lumbar spine using Kinetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: Segmental motion, defined as excessive (more than 3 mm) translational motion from flexion to extension, was investigated in 309 subjects (927 segments) using Kinetic MRI. Radiographic parameters which can help indicate segmental instability include disc degeneration (DD), facet joint osteoarthritis (FJO), and ligament flavum hypertrophy (LFH). These three radiographic parameters were simultaneously evaluated, and the combinations corresponding to significant segmental instability at each level were determined. RESULTS: The overall incidence of segmental instability was 10.5% at L3-L4, 16.5% at L4-L5, and 7.3% at L5-S1. DD and LFH at L3-L4 and FJO and LFH at L4-L5 were individually associated with segmental instability (p<0.05). At L4-L5, the following combinations had a higher incidence of segmental instability (p<0.05) when compared to other segments : (1) Grade IV DD with grade 3 FJO, (2) Grade 2 or 3 FJO with the presence of LFH, and (3) Grade IV DD with the presence of LFH. At L5-S1, the group with Grade III disc and Grade 3 FJO had a higher incidence of segmental instability than the group with Grade I or II DD and Grade 1 FJO. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the presences of either Grade IV DD or grade 3 FJO with LFH at L4-L5 were good indicators for segmental instability. Therefore, using these parameters simultaneously in patients with segmental instability would be useful for determining candidacy for surgical treatment.

Clinical Usefulness of Disc Degeneration and Facet Joint Degeneration as an Indicator of Judgment for Lumbar Segmental Instability

OBJECTIVE: Treatment for symptomatic lumbar stenosis is usually surgical decompression and additional global fusion is recommended for patients with segmental instability. The aim of this article is to evaluate that degeneration degree of the disc and facet joint could be the indicator of judgment for segmental instability. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 84 patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis. Patients in Group 1(30 patients) with radiological instability underwent decompression with global fusion, patients in Group 2(54 patients) without radiological instability underwent decompression with global fusion or decompression only according to the existence and nonexistence of clinical instability. Magnetic resonance images were used to assess the disc degeneration from Grade I(normal) to Grade V(advanced) and the facet joints degeneration from Grade 0(normal) to Grade 3(advanced). All patients were checked with the simple X-ray stress view and evaluated. RESULTS: Severity of the disc degeneration had no significant association with the segmental instability, and no correlation with the facet joint degeneration. Severity of facet joint degeneration had significant correlation with the radiological instability. The segmental instability was increased with increasing severity of facet joint degeneration, especially tran slation. There was a significant association between facet joint degeneration and clinical instability. The facet joint degeneration was increased in patients with clinical instability. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the facet joint degeneration may be the useful indicator of judgment for segmental instability