TY - JOUR
T1 - Endplate lesions in the lumbar spine
T2 - a novel MRI-based classification scheme and epidemiology in low back pain patients
AU - Brayda-Bruno, Marco
AU - Albano, Domenico
AU - Cannella, Guglielmo
AU - Galbusera, Fabio
AU - Zerbi, Alberto
PY - 2018/11
Y1 - 2018/11
N2 - Purpose: The aims of the study were to introduce a classification scheme for endplate lesions based on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and to detect possible associations between endplate lesions and other variables such as age, sex, disc degeneration and Modic changes in a large population. Methods: MRI images of 996 low back pain patients were collected. All intervertebral spaces were classified as “normal”, “wavy/irregular”, “notched”, “Schmorl’s node” and “fracture”. The associations between endplate lesions and age, sex, disc degeneration and Modic changes were determined in the considered population. Results: The most common endplate lesions were “notched” and “Schmorl’s nodes”. The prevalence was higher among the male subjects. In most patients (62.8%), no endplate lesions were detected, with a significant difference between male (57.5%) and female subjects (67.9%) (p < 0.001). Lesions were found to be associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (relative risk 2.49) and signal alterations (relative risk 3.08). Fleiss kappas of 0.73 and 0.89 were, respectively, assessed for the inter- and intra-observer reliabilities of the new classification system. Conclusions: Endplate lesions were detected, classified with a novel scheme and analysed in a large population of patients suffering from low back pain based on MRI images. The reliability of the novel classification system was demonstrated. Graphical abstract: These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].
AB - Purpose: The aims of the study were to introduce a classification scheme for endplate lesions based on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and to detect possible associations between endplate lesions and other variables such as age, sex, disc degeneration and Modic changes in a large population. Methods: MRI images of 996 low back pain patients were collected. All intervertebral spaces were classified as “normal”, “wavy/irregular”, “notched”, “Schmorl’s node” and “fracture”. The associations between endplate lesions and age, sex, disc degeneration and Modic changes were determined in the considered population. Results: The most common endplate lesions were “notched” and “Schmorl’s nodes”. The prevalence was higher among the male subjects. In most patients (62.8%), no endplate lesions were detected, with a significant difference between male (57.5%) and female subjects (67.9%) (p < 0.001). Lesions were found to be associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (relative risk 2.49) and signal alterations (relative risk 3.08). Fleiss kappas of 0.73 and 0.89 were, respectively, assessed for the inter- and intra-observer reliabilities of the new classification system. Conclusions: Endplate lesions were detected, classified with a novel scheme and analysed in a large population of patients suffering from low back pain based on MRI images. The reliability of the novel classification system was demonstrated. Graphical abstract: These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.[Figure not available: see fulltext.].
KW - Classification system
KW - Endplate defects
KW - Endplate lesions
KW - Modic changes
KW - Pfirrmann grading
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U2 - 10.1007/s00586-018-5787-6
DO - 10.1007/s00586-018-5787-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85055031287
VL - 27
SP - 2854
EP - 2861
JO - European Spine Journal
JF - European Spine Journal
SN - 0940-6719
IS - 11
ER -