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Related Experiment Videos

Morphologic study of lumbar vertebral osteophytes

M H Heggeness1, B J Doherty

  • 1Institute for Spinal Disorders, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex 77030, USA.

Southern Medical Journal
|March 13, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Traction spurs and claw spurs, indicators of lumbar spine degeneration, often appear together on the same vertebral rim. This finding suggests they stem from a common degenerative process, not distinct pathologies.

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Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Radiology
  • Spine Surgery

Background:

  • Vertebral osteophytes are key radiographic markers for lumbar spine degenerative changes.
  • Osteophytes are classified as
  • traction spurs
  • or
  • claw spurs
  • .
  • Traction spurs have been linked to spinal instability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the coexistence and potential relationship between traction spurs and claw spurs in the lumbar spine.
  • To determine if these osteophyte types represent distinct or common degenerative processes.

Main Methods:

  • Examined 120 vertebrae (T-11 to L-5) from 20 cadavers.
  • Measured osteophyte presence using digital calipers.

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  • Classified osteophyte types (traction vs. claw) visually per the Macnab classification.

    • Main Results:

    • Sixty vertebral rims exhibited significant osteophytes.
    • Twenty-four rims had only claw spurs, and 11 had only traction spurs.
    • No corresponding traction osteophytes were found on adjacent vertebrae when traction spurs were present alone.

    Conclusions:

    • Traction spurs and claw spurs frequently coexist on the same vertebral rim.
    • This coexistence suggests a shared underlying degenerative process.
    • The findings challenge the notion that these spurs represent two distinct pathological entities.