Degenerative findings on MRI of the lumbar spine:prevalence, environmental determinants and association with low back symptoms

• Main Author: Takatalo, J. (Jani)
• Other Authors: Karppinen, J. (Jaro), Taimela, S. (Simo), Tervonen, O. (Osmo)
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Oulun yliopisto 2015
• Subjects: intervertebral disc degeneration; low back pain; lumbar spine; magnetic resonance imaging; overweight; physical activity; smoking; young adult; alaselkäkipu; fyysinen aktiivisuus; lanne-ristiselkä; magneettikuvaus; nuoret aikuiset; tupakointi; välilevyrappeuma; ylipaino; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789526207834

Abstract Earlier studies on lumbar degenerative imaging findings in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been done mainly in adult populations and the associations of degenerative findings with low back pain (LBP) are controversial. Only a few studies have involved adolescents and young adults. Heritability has been acknowledged as the only explicit risk factor of disc degeneration (DD). This study investigated the prevalence and environmental determinant of lumbar degenerative findings in MRI and their association with low back symptoms among young adults. The data were based on two physical assessments, three questionnaires and one lumbar MRI that were executed on members of the Oulu Back Study (n=558), a subsample of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986, between 16 and 21 years of age. Prevalences of lumbar DD (54%), bulging (25%), protrusion (18%) and Schmorl’s node (17%) were high, whereas other degenerative findings were rare among young adults. Males had higher prevalence of DD and Schmorl’s nodes than females. DD and herniations were associated with low back symptoms. On the other hand, symptoms were present among subjects without DD or other abnormal findings on MRI. Of the environmental determinants, high body mass index and MRI-based obesity measurements of visceral adiposity were associated with lumbar DD among males. Waist circumference and smoking showed a comparable association with DD among males, but the level of physical activity was not associated with DD in either gender. Low back symptoms are more common among young adults with a higher degree of DD or presence of disc herniation. Smoking and overweight are associated with lumbar DD among young male adults. Tiivistelmä Aikaisempia tutkimuksia magneettikuvantamisella (MK) todetuista lannerangan rappeumamuutoksista ja niiden yhteyksistä alaselkäkipuun on tehty lähinnä aikuisväestöllä ja tulokset ovat ristiriitaisia. Vain muutamia tutkimuksia on tehty alle 25-vuotiailla. Välilevyrappeuman mahdollisista riskitekijöistä vain perimästä on vahvaa ...