Do lumbar intervertebral disc parameters in patients with chronic low back pain differ quantitatively from healthy individuals? A comparative study

Objectives: Studies in the past were not able to find any definitive correlation between disc parameters and LBP. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the association of the lumbar disc parameters with LBP and to find the quantitative differences between the discs in LBP patients and healthy individuals. Methodology: Fifty patients with chronic LBP (group A) and 25 healthy individuals (group B) were subjected to magnetic resonance imaging of lumbar spine. Disc parameters of orientation and size were estimated. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in disc angle at L1-L2 ( p = 0.01), L2-L3 ( p = 0.05), and L3-L4 ( p = 0.001), and skin angle at L2-L3 ( p = 0.03) and L4-L5 ( p = 0.05) level. Length and cross-sectional area (CSA) of anterior intervertebral height, posterior intervertebral height, intervertebral disc, anterior disc material, posterior disc material; and volume of anterior disc material and volume of posterior disc material were statistically significantly more at various disc levels in group A. Antero-posterior dural sac length and CSA of the sac were statistically significantly smaller at L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. There was a significant association between average disc height and dural sac area at L1-L2 ( p-value = 0.0393) and L5-S1 ( p-value = 0.0022) and CSA of the disc and dural sac area at L5-S1 ( p-value = 0.049) in group A. Conclusions: There was a significant difference in the lumbar disc orientation and dimensions between LBP patients and healthy individuals. Larger disc parameters (height, volume, CSA, and length) and altered orientation may affect the biomechanics of the spine, thus predisposing to LBP.