Ann Rehabil Med.  2011 Dec;35(6):852-859. 10.5535/arm.2011.35.6.852.

Association between Cross-sectional Areas of Lumbar Muscles on Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Chronicity of Low Back Pain

• Lee HI
• Song J
• Lee HS
• Kang JY
• Kim M
• Ryu JS

• KMID: 2266811
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2011.35.6.852

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prognostic value of cross-sectional areas (CSA) of paraspinal (multifidus and erector spinae) and psoas muscles on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in chronicity of low back pain. METHOD: Thirty-eight subjects who visited our hospital for acute low back pain were enrolled. Review of their medical records and telephone interviews were done. Subjects were divided into two groups; chronic back pain group (CBP) and a group showing improvement within 6 months after onset of pain (IBP). The CSA of paraspinal and psoas muscles were obtained at the level of the lower margin of L3 and L5 vertebrae using MRI.
RESULTS
CSA of erector spinae muscle and the proportion of the area to lumbar muscles (paraspinal and psoas muscles) at L5 level in the CBP group were significantly smaller than that of the IBP group (p<0.05). The mean value of CSA of multifidus muscle at L5 level in the CBP group was smaller than that of the IBP group, but was not statistically significant (p>0.05). CSA of psoas muscle at L5 level and all values measured at L3 level were not significantly different between the groups (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION
CSA of erector spinae muscle at the lower lumbar level and the proportion of the area to the lumbar muscles at the L5 level can be considered to be prognostic factors of chronicity of low back pain.

Keyword

Low back pain; Magnetic resonance imaging; Cross-sectional area; Muscles

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Interviews as Topic
Low Back Pain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Magnetics
Magnets
Medical Records
Muscles
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Psoas Muscles
Spine
Organothiophosphorus Compounds

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The figure (A) shows sagittal view of lumbar spine. The CSA of paraspinal and psoas muscles were obtained on axial T2 weighted images at the lower margin of L3 (B) and L5 vertebrae using the Marosis m-view version 5.4 program. Mu: Multifidus, ES: Erector spinae.

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