MRI of Paraspinal Muscles in The Lumbar Spine: Association of Muscle Atrophy with Spinal Stenosis and Disc Herniation. A Prospective Study - Abstract
Objective: To determine the association of lumbar paraspinal muscle atrophy with lumbar disc herniation and spinal stenosis.
Material and methods: Prospective study of 160 consecutive patients was done who presented with lower back pain and had disc herniation on MRI lumbar spine. Disc herniation with its pattern and spinal stenosis with its grade were analyzed. Paraspinal muscle atrophy of Multifidus, Longissimus and Iliocostalis was noted at each level of disc herniation and spinal stenosis and their correlation with muscle atrophy grade and laterality was studied.
Results: 79% patients with disc herniation showed Multifidus muscle atrophy however no significant association was seen between paraspinal muscle atrophy and disc herniation (P=.15). Significant correlation was seen between muscle atrophy laterality and disc herniation pattern (P< .001). 90% patients with spinal stenosis showed paraspinal muscle atrophy. Significant association was also seen between paraspinal muscle atrophy and spinal stenosis of any grade (P< .001).
Conclusion: There is correlation between paraspinal muscle atrophy and spinal stenosis. Pattern of disc herniation and symmetry of paraspinal muscle atrophy also has
significant correlation but more studies need to be done with large sample size.