Objective To investigate the incidence of Modic changes of lumbar endplate and its cl inical significances. Methods The imaging data of 562 patients (2 810 lumbar intervertebral discs) with lumbar degenerative disease undergoingposterior operation from June 2006 to June 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 297 males and 265 femalesaged 26-77 years old (average 49 years old). The course of disease was 2 months to 40 years (median 10.4 years). Imaging examinations excluded the tuberculosis, cancer, infection, trauma, etc. The association of Modic changes with low back pain (LBP) and patients’ weight was analyzed according to the incidence and types of Modic changes as well as the distribution of gender, age and disc level through imaging data of MRI. Results Modic changes were observed in 106 patients (18.9%) of 113 intervertebral discs, including 40 (13.5%) males and 66 (24.9%) females. The difference between male proportion and female proportion had a significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Modic changes was distributed from age 26 to 77 years old (average 49 years old). Among all the patients, 33 cases (5.9%) were type I, 66 cases (11.7%) were type II, and 7 cases (1.2%) were type III. According to the segment, the lesions involved L5, S1 disc for 58 discs (51.3%), L4, 5 for 35 (31.0%), L3, 4 for 11 (9.7%), L2, 3 for 6 (5.3%), and L1, 2 for 3 (2.7%). The incidence of Modic change was 15.5% (41/264) in the normal body weight group, 16.3% (34/208) in the over-weight group, and 34.4% (31/90) in the obesity group. There was a significant association between obesity and the Modic change (P lt; 0.05). Preoperatively, there were 59 patients (55.7%) with LBP in the Modic group, including 27 cases of type I Modic change, 27 cases of type II Modic change, and 5 cases of type III Modic change. Postoperatively, the LBP of 40 patients (67.8%) were rel ieved, including 24 cases of type I Modic change, 14 cases of type II Modic change, and 2 cases of type III Modic change. In non-Modic change group, there were 126 patients (27.6%) with LBP preoperatively, and 96 patients (76.2%) eased the symptoms postoperatively. There was significant difference between two groups on incidence rate (P lt; 0.05),but no significant difference on the remission rate of LBP (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion The most common Modic change is typeII and the most frequently involved level is the L5, S1. Modic changes are more common in female than in male and mainly happen to the obesity group. The incidence of LBP is higher in the patients with Modic change.
ObjectiveTo investigate the morphology of endplate shape in teens with lumbar degenerative disc disease by means of MRI and the correlation between endplate shape and lumbar disc degeneration. MethodsA retrospective study was performed on 31 teenage patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent MRI examination between January 2011 and April 2015. The morphology of endplate was classified into three groups:concave, flat and irregular based on the midsagittal T1-weighed MRI. The degree of disc degeneration was graded on T1-weighed MRI according to Pfirrmann's method with one to five points representing grade Ⅰ to Ⅴ. All endplates were determined by Modic grading system. The associations between morphology of endplate in lower lumbar spine and disc degenerative degree as well as Modic changes were evaluated retrospectively. ResultsAmong the 93 endplates, concave represented the maximum proportion (52/93). Irregular endplate increased from L3/4(4/21) to L5/S1(10/21) gradually. The average degenerative degree for concave, flat and irregular endplate was respectively (1.19±0.11) points, (2.25±0.43) points and (3.33±0.51) point, which showed significant differences (P<0.05). Irregular was the majority in protruding sections, and concave was the majority of non-protruding sections. There were 27 modic changes in 93 endplates, in which irregular was the most, showing significant difference (P<0.05), while the difference between concave and flat endplate was not significant (P>0.05). ConclusionWe can use endplate morphology, modic changes and disc degeneration to reflect degree of disc degeneration in teenage patients. Since the L5/S1 segments bear the greatest power in the lower lumbar spine, they are most prone to disc degeneration with more irregular endplates.
ObjectiveTo review the role of vertebral subchondral bone in maintaining normal physiological function of the intervertebral disc and in the intervertebral disc degeneration in light of bone anatomy, microstructure, histopathological features, and MRI imaging features. MethodsThe related home and abroad literature concerning vertebral subchondral bone and intervertebral disc degeneration was extensively reviewed and comprehensively analyzed. ResultsVertebral subchondral bone is part of the vertebral endplate and is defined as the vascularized cortical and trabecular bone layer located between the cartilage endplate and vertebral body. It not only plays a cushion shocks role in terms of conducting stress and effectively resists the hydrostatic nucleus, but also ensures the normal supply of disc nutrition. Subchondral bone sclerosis caused by bone remodeling abnormality severely decreases the ability of subchondral bone stress absorption and protective function of disc, which finally leads to increased inflammatory factors locally and hindered nutrition pathway of disc and enhanced disc degeneration. ConclusionTo further strengthen the knowledge and understanding of the vertebral subchondral bone will play a positive role in the study on the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration.
Objective To investigate the correlation between cervical Modic change (MC) and blood lipid and glucose levels. Methods Patients hospitalized with neck and shoulder pain in the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College between January 2015 and January 2021 were selected and divided into MC group and non-MC group according to whether the signal changes of cervical vertebral endplate occurred on MRI. The general data (age, gender, smoking history, drinking history), blood lipid indicators (high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, lipoprotein a, total cholesterol, triglyceride) and blood glucose indicators (glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose) were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the correlation between MC and various indicators. Results A total of 160 patients were included, including 48 patients in MC group and 112 patients in non-MC group. The age [(61.46±12.10) vs. (56.22±10.65) years], total cholesterol [(5.06±1.17) vs. (4.44±1.31) mmol/L], triglyceride [(1.61±0.64) vs. (1.38±0.58) mmol/L], glycosylated hemoglobin (6.78%±1.27% vs. 5.79%±0.85%), and fasting blood glucose [(7.84±1.51) vs. (6.93±1.47) mmol/L] of the patients in MC group were significantly higher than those in non-MC group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in gender, smoking ratio, drinking ratio, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein or lipoprotein a between the two groups (P>0.05). Logistic regression analysisshowed that age [odds ratio (OR)=1.064, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.022, 1.109), P=0.003], total cholesterol [OR=1.788, 95%CI (1.187, 2.694), P=0.005], triglyceride [OR=2.624, 95%CI (1.257, 5.479), P=0.010] and glycosylated hemoglobin [OR=4.942, 95%CI (2.446, 9.987), P<0.001] were risk factors of cervical MC. Conclusions Age, total cholesterol, triglyceride and glycosylated hemoglobin are risk factors of cervical MC. Elderly patients with hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia should be alert to the occurrence of cervical MC. Controlling the levels of blood lipid and glucose may reduce the risk of cervical MC.
Objective To review the research progress of Modic changes and its influence on lumbar interbody fusion. Methods The domestic and foreign literature related to Modic changes and its influence on lumbar interbody fusion was extensively reviewed. The etiology of Modic changes was summarized, and the treatment measures of Modic changes on lumbar interbody fusion were discussed. Results The etiology of Modic changes is not clear, which may be related to mechanical factors, autoimmune factors, low toxic infection factors, and genetic factors. Modic changes may lead to fusion failure and cage subsidence after lumbar interbody fusion. Preoperative evaluation of endplate sclerosis, reduction of iatrogenic endplate injury, fine operating of intervertebral space, management of osteoporosis, and selection of appropriate cage can prevent or reduce fusion failure or cage subsidence. Conclusion Modic changes may lead to fusion failure and cage subsidence after lumbar interbody fusion, and active perioperative intervention of Modic changes is helpful to improve the clinical prognosis.