A Comprehensive Analysis Between Disk Geometry and Posterior Muscle Characteristics Among Degenerative Spine...

Area of Science:

• Spine biomechanics and imaging analysis.
• Musculoskeletal health and degenerative disk disease.

Background:

• Paralumbar muscle changes are linked to clinical outcomes in spinal conditions.
• The specific relationship between lumbar disk geometry and paralumbar muscle characteristics remains undefined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the associations between posterior muscle health indicators and lumbar disk geometry parameters from L1 to S1.
• To explore how disk shape influences the health of surrounding spinal muscles.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study analyzing axial T2 MRI for muscle measurements and lateral radiographs for disk geometry.
• Partial correlation analysis controlled for age and sex to assess associations between disk shape and muscle health at each lumbar level.
• ANCOVA was used to compare muscle characteristics between listhesis groups, controlling for demographic factors.

Main Results:

• Significant positive associations were found between focal lordosis and lumbar indentation value (LIV) across all lumbar levels (L1-S1).
• Weak positive associations existed between focal lordosis and cross-sectional area normalized by BMI (CSA/BMI), and weak negative associations between disk height and Goutallier Classification.
• No significant differences in muscle health parameters (CSA/BMI, LIV, Goutallier Classification) were observed between spondylolisthesis and retrolisthesis groups.

Conclusions:

• Posterior muscle health is significantly associated with lumbar disk shape, particularly disk height and lordosis.
• Larger and more lordotic disks are associated with better posterior muscle health.
• Disk listhesis was not significantly associated with muscle quality, and no differences were found between spondylolisthesis and retrolisthesis regarding muscle health.