Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity

Abstract Old thoracolumbar fracture with kyphosis (OTLFK) often results in low back pain, with intervertebral disc degeneration being a significant contributor. We hypothesized that patients with OTLFK exhibit distinct patterns of disc degeneration compared to those with chronic low back pain withou...

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Main Authors: Xi-long Cui, Ao Ding, Wen Yin, Wan-mei Yang, Wei Zhang, Hao Wu, Ji-shi Jiang, Yun-lei Zhai, Zi-kai Hua, Hai-yang Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82827-4
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author Xi-long Cui
Ao Ding
Wen Yin
Wan-mei Yang
Wei Zhang
Hao Wu
Ji-shi Jiang
Yun-lei Zhai
Zi-kai Hua
Hai-yang Yu
author_facet Xi-long Cui
Ao Ding
Wen Yin
Wan-mei Yang
Wei Zhang
Hao Wu
Ji-shi Jiang
Yun-lei Zhai
Zi-kai Hua
Hai-yang Yu
author_sort Xi-long Cui
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Old thoracolumbar fracture with kyphosis (OTLFK) often results in low back pain, with intervertebral disc degeneration being a significant contributor. We hypothesized that patients with OTLFK exhibit distinct patterns of disc degeneration compared to those with chronic low back pain without kyphotic deformity. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of disc degeneration in OTLFK patients and explore its association with sagittal spinal parameters and endplate injury. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 52 patients with OTLFK (observation group, OG) and 104 age-, gender-, and BMI-matched patients with chronic low back pain (control group, CG) treated at our hospital between February 2017 and March 2023. Intervertebral disc degeneration from T11/12 to L5/S1 was assessed using MRI T2-weighted images and the Pfirrmann grading system. Sagittal spinal parameters—including lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), local kyphosis Cobb angle (LKCA), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), pelvic tilt(PT), sacral slope(SS), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA)—and endplate injury grades were measured in the OG. Differences in disc degeneration between the two groups were compared, and correlations between disc degeneration, sagittal parameters, and endplate injury were analyzed. The OG exhibited significantly higher overall disc degeneration grades compared to the CG (p < 0.05), particularly at levels T11/12, T12/L1, L1/2, and L2/3. In the OG, grade IV and V degenerations were predominantly found from T11/12 to L2/3, whereas in the CG, they were mainly at L4/5 and L5/S1. Disc degeneration in the OG was significantly correlated with sagittal parameters and endplate injury grades (p < 0.05). Patients with OTLFK have higher grades of disc degeneration in the thoracolumbar region compared to those with chronic low back pain without kyphosis. Disc degeneration in OTLFK is associated with abnormal sagittal alignment and endplate injury, suggesting that kyphotic deformity and altered spinal biomechanics contribute to accelerated disc degeneration.
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spelling doaj-art-0cd28061a4e941c388d0efca93add13e2025-08-20T02:43:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-011411810.1038/s41598-024-82827-4Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformityXi-long Cui0Ao Ding1Wen Yin2Wan-mei Yang3Wei Zhang4Hao Wu5Ji-shi Jiang6Yun-lei Zhai7Zi-kai Hua8Hai-yang Yu9Affiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityMedical College, Hubei University for NationalitiesAffiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAffiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAffiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAffiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAffiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAffiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Shanghai UniversityAffiliated Fuyang People’s Hospital of Anhui Medical UniversityAbstract Old thoracolumbar fracture with kyphosis (OTLFK) often results in low back pain, with intervertebral disc degeneration being a significant contributor. We hypothesized that patients with OTLFK exhibit distinct patterns of disc degeneration compared to those with chronic low back pain without kyphotic deformity. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of disc degeneration in OTLFK patients and explore its association with sagittal spinal parameters and endplate injury. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 52 patients with OTLFK (observation group, OG) and 104 age-, gender-, and BMI-matched patients with chronic low back pain (control group, CG) treated at our hospital between February 2017 and March 2023. Intervertebral disc degeneration from T11/12 to L5/S1 was assessed using MRI T2-weighted images and the Pfirrmann grading system. Sagittal spinal parameters—including lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), local kyphosis Cobb angle (LKCA), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), pelvic tilt(PT), sacral slope(SS), and sagittal vertical axis (SVA)—and endplate injury grades were measured in the OG. Differences in disc degeneration between the two groups were compared, and correlations between disc degeneration, sagittal parameters, and endplate injury were analyzed. The OG exhibited significantly higher overall disc degeneration grades compared to the CG (p < 0.05), particularly at levels T11/12, T12/L1, L1/2, and L2/3. In the OG, grade IV and V degenerations were predominantly found from T11/12 to L2/3, whereas in the CG, they were mainly at L4/5 and L5/S1. Disc degeneration in the OG was significantly correlated with sagittal parameters and endplate injury grades (p < 0.05). Patients with OTLFK have higher grades of disc degeneration in the thoracolumbar region compared to those with chronic low back pain without kyphosis. Disc degeneration in OTLFK is associated with abnormal sagittal alignment and endplate injury, suggesting that kyphotic deformity and altered spinal biomechanics contribute to accelerated disc degeneration.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82827-4Old fractureKyphosisDisc degenerationEndplate injury, Sagittal parameters
spellingShingle Xi-long Cui
Ao Ding
Wen Yin
Wan-mei Yang
Wei Zhang
Hao Wu
Ji-shi Jiang
Yun-lei Zhai
Zi-kai Hua
Hai-yang Yu
Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity
Scientific Reports
Old fracture
Kyphosis
Disc degeneration
Endplate injury, Sagittal parameters
title Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity
title_full Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity
title_fullStr Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity
title_full_unstemmed Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity
title_short Imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture-related kyphotic deformity
title_sort imaging observation of intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with old thoracolumbar fracture related kyphotic deformity
topic Old fracture
Kyphosis
Disc degeneration
Endplate injury, Sagittal parameters
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-82827-4
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