title: Radiological signs of Scheuermann disease and low back pain: retrospective categorization of 188 hospital staff members with 6-year follow-up.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between radiological signs of Scheuermann disease (SD) and low back pain (LBP) in a local population using lumbar magnetic resonance (MR) images.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  SD is a spinal disorder, and both its classic and atypical (lumbar) forms are associated with LBP. However, radiological signs of SD are present in 18% to 40% of the general population, in whom the clinical significance of "SD-like" spine remains largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study included 188 staff members from a single hospital. Participants' lumbar MR images and self-administered questionnaires concerning demographic information, LBP status, consequences, and functional limitations were collected. Participants were classified into 2 groups according to whether lumbar MR images met SD diagnostic criteria, and LBP status, consequences, and functional limitation were compared. Follow-up interviews were conducted after 6 years to compare LBP progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-four participants (18.1%) had SD-like spine. Rates of lifetime, previous 1-year, and point LBP did not significantly differ between groups. However, among participants who had ever had LBP, SD-like spine was associated with higher rates of work absence (42.1% vs. 9.5%, χ = 9.620, P = 0.002) and seeking medical care (68.4% vs. 39.2%, χ = 5.216, P = 0.022) due to LBP, as well as significantly greater intensity of the most severe LBP episode in the past 2 years (6.4 ± 2.5 vs. 4.1 ± 2.5, t = 3.564, P = 0.001). Among the 159 participants who completed the 6-year follow-up, a significantly higher proportion of people with SD-like spine reported aggravated LBP during the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that in the general population, lumbar MR images of many people meet SD diagnostic criteria, and having SD-like spine seemed to be associated with the severity and progressive nature of LBP. Our findings should inspire further research in this field.
  
  
  METHODS
  3.
authors: *Department of Orthopaedics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China; and †Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Liu
authors: Xinhu
authors: X
authors: Guo
authors: Zhongqiang
authors: Z
authors: Chen
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Qi
authors: Weishi
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: Zhaoqing
authors: Z
authors: Guo
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Zeng
authors: Chuiguo
authors: C
authors: Sun
authors: Zhongjun
authors: Z
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006282:Health Personnel; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000473:pathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012544:Scheuermann Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires