Relationship between X-ray findings of lumbar spondylosis and knee pain

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between radiographic measurement in lumbar spine and clinical information including symptoms or results of functional testing using a baseline data of longitudinal cohort study.

A total of 314 elderly subjects were recruited from 5 orthopedic clinics or affiliated facilities. Data for the present investigation were collected via an interviewer-administered questionnaire, which included questions on past medical history, drug history, pain area. And also results of functional testing and X-ray imaging of the lumbar spine were collected. Analysis was carried out to determine any correlation between results of X-ray imaging of the lumbar spine and other collected data, and sorted regarding Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). The correlations among these variables and odds ratio were also analyzed.

T12/L1% disc height showed a minimum AIC value with buttock pain (- 4.57) and history of vertebral fracture (- 4.05). The L1/L2, L2/L3, and L3/L4% disc height had a minimal AIC value with knee pain (- 4.11, - 13.3, - 3.15, respectively), and odds ratio of knee pain were 3.5, 3.8, and 2.7, respectively.

Correlation was recognized between the T12/L1% disc height and both buttock pain and previous vertebral fractures, and the L1/L2, L2/L3, and L3/L4% disc height showed a correlation with knee pain. Especially the L2/L3% disc height and knee pain had a strong correlation. It was suggested that these findings may provide additional basis to the concept that lumbar spinal lesion associates with knee pain clinically.