P-ISSN 2587-2400 | E-ISSN 2587-196X
EJMO. 2017; 1(2): 96-100 | DOI: 10.14744/ejmo.2017.33043

The Effect of the Paraspinal Muscles on Lumbar Disc Herniation

Ozlem Turkoglu1, Zafer Turkoglu2
1Department of Radiology, Kartal Dr Lütfi Kirdar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, 2Department of Dermatology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey,

Objectives: Lumbar disc degeneration is diagnosed with radiological signs in the paraspinal muscles (PSM) seen on lumbar magnetic resonance imaging. It is associated with body weight, height, and a high body mass index (BMI). The role of the PSM has not been examined in the literature. The aim of this study was to analyze hernia grading, bilateral PSM length, and BMI. Methods: The grading of herniation size and the anteroposterior (AP) length of the bilateral PSM and their distance to the skin was assessed at lumbar intervertebral levels in 70 patients with low back pain. Data collected were the bilateral AP lengths of the psoas and PS erector muscle group, Modic type endplate degeneration, and hernia grade at each intervertebral level from L1 to S1. Patients’ age, sex, and BMI were also recorded. Results: The hernia grades 0-1 were common at the L1-L2, L2-L3, and L3-L4 levels with statistical significance, and hernia grades 2-3 were common at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 levels. The mean age of the patients with a normal BMI was lower than that of the patients who were overweight or obese. The mean age was associated with hernia grade only at the L2-L3 and L3-L4 levels, and it was also related to the right side AP length of the PSM at the L2-L3 and bilateral psoas to skin distance at L3-L4. BMI was not associated with any AP length of bilateral PSM except at the L5-S1 level. There was a correlation between hernia grade 0 and AP length of the right PSM at the L2-L3 level and the left PSM at the L4-L5 level. Conclusion: PSM atrophy was not related to the severity of hernia or pain, and control of BMI may be effective for hernia. Further studies are required to confirm a possible relationship between the PSM and lumbar disc hernia.


Cite This Article

Turkoglu O, Turkoglu Z. The Effect of the Paraspinal Muscles on Lumbar Disc Herniation. EJMO. 2017; 1(2): 96-100

Corresponding Author: Ozlem Turkoglu

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