Relationship between a Radiographic Grading Scale of Degenerative Lumbar Disease and Quality of Life

Objective  To evaluate the correlation between a radiographic scale of lumbar degenerative disease and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Methods  A cross-sectional study in which the ODI quality of life questionnaire and the radiographic parameters for the classification of lumbar degenerative disease into different grades were compared to try to establish a relationship between them. Results  The relationship between the radiographic parameters and quality of life indicators does not behave homogeneously, considering the different grades of the lumbar grading scale. Grade-2 lumbar degenerative disease showed a statistically significant relationship with the worsening of the ODI quality of life score. Conclusion  The lumbar degenerative disease grading scale used in the present study showed a relevant clinical potential, as it presented a significant relationship with the quality of life measured by the ODI score in part of the groups evaluated.