Volumetric Muscle Measurements Indicate Significant Muscle Degeneration in Single-Level Disc Herniation Patients

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Neurology
• Radiology

Background:

• Lower back pain is strongly linked to paraspinal muscle atrophy.
• Lumbar disc herniation may contribute to this muscle degeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of lumbar paravertebral muscle atrophy in patients with and without single-level disc herniation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 110 patients, divided into two groups: 55 with single-level disc herniation and radiculopathy (Group A), and 55 with back pain but no herniation (Group B).
• Paravertebral muscle cross-sectional areas were measured by two independent observers.

Main Results:

• Patients with disc herniation (Group A) exhibited significantly smaller cross-sectional areas in multifidus muscles (MM) and erector spinae muscles compared to the control group (Group B) (P < 0.0001).
• No significant differences were found in psoas major cross-sectional areas, disc heights, or distances between MM and laminae between the groups.

Conclusions:

• The multifidus muscles (MM) and erector spinae muscles, innervated by spinal nerve roots at the same level, showed atrophy in patients with disc herniation.
• Long-term nerve root compression from disc herniation likely causes degeneration in these specific paraspinal muscle groups.