New insights into the natural course and clinical relevance of Modic changes over 2 years following lumbar limited discectomy: analysis of prospective collected data

European spine journal

article

Richard Bostelmann¹  Athanasios Petridis¹  Katinka Fischer²  Peter Vajkoczy¹  Tamara Bostelmann¹  Martin Barth¹ 

[1] Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Duesseldorf;Mathematical Institute, Heinrich Heine University

关键词: Spine;    Low back pain;    Modic change(s);    Degeneration;    Discectomy;    Magnetic resonance imaging;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s00586-019-05988-1

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Few retrospective studies have addressed Modic changes (MC) following lumbar spine surgery, though it is usually assumed that MC increase in grade and incidence. To test this conventional wisdom, we investigated the natural course of MC following primary lumbar limited discectomy with two-year follow-up. In addition, a possible clinical relevance to those changes was assessed. The data of the control group (278 subjects) of a prospective randomized, controlled trial (RCT) were evaluated retrospectively. We did not observe a simple increase in MC with regard to grade. There is variable activity observed in Type 2 (at 12 months) and in Type 1 (at 24 months). Conversion from one grade to another may occur and may be upward or downward. The incidence of MC increased slightly over time, as after surgery a decreasing percentage of the study group remained without MC over two years (1 year: 34% (85/250); 2 years: 30% (72/237)). Radiological parameters (rotation, translation, and spondylolisthesis) had no significant correlation to MC or MC subtypes. Lastly, we found that neither the different MC types nor their changes were correlated with clinical parameters (VAS back, VAS leg, ODI score) preoperatively or during follow-up. The pattern of Modic changes following lumbar limited discectomy is complex, not simply increasing. There is variable activity in MC Types 1 and 2 at the different time points of follow-up, and conversion from a higher grader to a lower one or vice versa is possible. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

【 授权许可】

Unknown