title: The significance of osteophytes on lumbar vertebral bodies in relation to discographic findings.
abstract: Marginal osteophytes of the lumbar vertebral bodies have been related to the discographic findings in lumbar disc spaces. Every case of Scheuermann's anterior marginal epiphysitis was associated with a direct communication with the disc nucleus. Eleven per cent of discs with related 'traction' spurs were discographically normal Forty-three per cent of discs with related 'claw-type' osteophytes appeared normal with discography. It is concluded that when reported radiographs of the lumbosacral spine with osteophytes, particularly those of the claw-type, it is incorrect to describe these changes as representative of disc degeneration in the absence of unequivocal disc space narrowing.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008161:Lumbosacral Region / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*