Is there an interdependence between paraspinal muscle mass and lumbar disc degeneration? A MRI based study at 2520...

Low back pain is one of the most common cause for outpatient visits. Though few studies have shown the vital role of paraspinal muscles in lumbar spine pathology, literature is scarce regarding the influence of the paraspinal muscles in disc degeneration. We aimed to analyse the correlation between paraspinal muscles and disc degeneration.

This is a Level III Prospective Cohort Study done in MRI of lumbosacral spine in 504 patients at 2520 levels from L1-2 to L5-S1. The parameters assessed were age, Pfirrmann grade for disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle (Multifidus and Erector Spinae) mass assessed by the gross cross sectional area of the muscle.The values and their correlation was analyzed using SPSS software.

The study included a total of 504 patients (231 males and 273 females) with a mean age of 52.00 ± 15.00 (22-80) years. The mean GCSA in cm² of the paraspinal muscles at L1-L2, L2-L3,L3-L4,L4-L5,L5-S1 were 16.177 ± 2.72, 17.275 ± 2.16, 16.900 ± 3.07, 16.800 ± 2.63, 13.426 ± 2.42 respectively. We found that the age of the patient is directly proportional to the disc degeneration and inversely proportional to GCSA of paraspinal muscle. There was a significant negative correlation between disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle mass.

We found that the paraspinal muscle mass reduces and Pfirrman's Grade increases as age advances. Also patients with disc degeneration tend to have wasting of paraspinal muscles and vice versa. Hence, strengthening the paraspinal muscles should be emphasised to prevent back pain and to stall the degeneration cascade.