[Imageology change of degenerative cartilage endplate to different degree and its clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To study the imageology changes of degenerative cartilage endplate to different degree, and to explore its clinical significances.


METHODS
The imageology data (MRI or CT) of 58 patients with degenerative disc disease of L4, 5 (including 34 patients with lumbar disc herniation). The patients were divided into three groups depending on the mean signal intensity rate of degenerative disc and cerebrospinal fluid: light degenerative group of 17 cases, intermediate degenerative group of 17 cases, and severe degenerative group of 24 cases. The signals of intervertebral disks on T2WI of sagittal magnetic resonance imaging were inputted into the computer and the concave angles of endplate were measured. Anteroposterior diameter and transverse diameter of the endplate were measured from the CT scan of L4, 5, and then the relative curvature of endplate was got. The change patterns of the concave angle and the relative curvature of vertebral endplates were analyzed when the lumbar disc was differently degenerative.


RESULTS
(1) The concave angle of endplate (L4 inferior endplate, L5 superior endplate) gradually increased among the light degenerative group, intermediate degenerative group and severe degenerative group (P < 0.01). (2) The relative curature of endplate (L4 inferior endplate, L5 superior endplate) gradually increased. There was significant difference between the light degenerative group and intermediate degenerative group (P < 0.0l), and there was significant difference between the light degenerative group and severe degenerative group (P < 0.0l). There were no significant difference between intermediate degenerative group and severe degenerative group (P < 0.05). (3) The concave angle of endplate had positive correlation with relative circularity (r = 0.786, 0.490).


CONCLUSIONS
The concave angle and relative curvature of endplate generate corresponding changes when the lumbar disc are differently degenerative. The changes of concave angle and relative curvature of endplate are important factors of lumbar disc hernia and lower back pain, which may evaluate the probability of intervertebral disk hernia.
Miao
Sheng
S
Department of Orthopaedics, People Hospital of Pizhou, Pizhou 221300, Jiangsu, China. miaosheng@126.com
Sha
Guang-Zhao
GZ
Wang
Yong-Dong
YD
Yan
Lian-Qi
LQ
Song
Liang-Yu
LY
Guo
Zheng
Z
Fan
Lei
L
Shao
Lin
L
D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000473:pathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged