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Structural brain alterations in patients with lumbar disc herniation: a preliminary study.
Michael Luchtmann1, Yvonne Steinecke1, Sebastian Baecke2
1Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Plos One
|March 6, 2014
Summary
Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) causes specific brain changes, including reduced gray matter in areas like the prefrontal cortex and increased volume in others. These findings offer insights into chronic pain mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a prevalent condition with significant economic impact.
- Previous research indicates brain alterations in chronic pain, but specific cortical changes in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate morphometric alterations in gray and white matter brain volumes in patients with LDH.
- To compare brain structures between LDH patients and healthy controls to identify localized differences.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 12 LDH patients and healthy controls.
- High-resolution MRI brain imaging using a 3 Tesla scanner.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to analyze local gray and white matter volume differences.
Main Results:
- LDH patients exhibited reduced gray matter volume in the right anterolateral prefrontal cortex, right temporal lobe, left premotor cortex, right caudate nucleus, and right cerebellum.
- Increased gray matter volume was observed in the right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, left precuneal cortex, left fusiform gyrus, and right brainstem.
- Subcortical white matter decreases were noted near the left prefrontal cortex, right premotor cortex, and anterior limb of the left internal capsule.
Conclusions:
- Lumbar disc herniation can induce specific local gray and white matter alterations in the brain.
- Studying these LDH-induced brain changes may elucidate chronic pain chronification processes.
- Identifying these alterations could potentially reveal prognostic factors for improving LDH treatment outcomes.
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