Age-dependent correlation of low-back pain and lumbar disc regeneration.
The prevalence of lumbar disc degeneration in subjects suffering from low-back pain (n = 207; age range 10-49 years) and in age-matched asymptomatic controls (n = 216) was investigated by magnetic resonance imaging. The percentage of subjects with degenerated discs increased with age; starting from the age of 15 years, this increase was more rapid in subjects with low-back pain. Concurrently, the number of degenerated discs was higher in the pain group than in controls. Lumbar disc degeneration manifests earlier and in a greater percentage of subjects with low-back pain than in asymptomatic controls.
Paajanen
H
H
Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Kuopio, Finland.
Erkintalo
M
M
Parkkola
R
R
Salminen
J
J
Kormano
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged