MRI Evaluation of Lumbar Disc Degenerative Disease

Abstract

Lumbar disc degeneration is the most common cause of low back pain. Men are more frequently affected to the disc degeneration than women. Multiple levels of the disc involvement are seen per person. Disc herniation, disc extrusion, narrowing of spinal canal, narrowing of lateral recess, compression of neural foramen, facetal arthropathy and ligamentum flavum thickening is common at the L4 –L5 disc level. L1- L2 disc involvement and spondylolisthesis are less common. The sequelae of disc degeneration are among leading causes of functional incapacity in both sexes and are a common source of chronic disability in working years. Disc degeneration involves structural disruption and cell-mediated changes in composition. Mechanical, traumatic, nutritional, and genetic factors all may play role in cascade of disc degeneration, albeit to variable degree in different individuals. The presence of degenerative change is by no means an indicator of symptoms, and there is very high prevalence in asymptomatic individuals. The etiology of pain as the symptom of degenerative disease is complex and appears to be combination of mechanical deformation and the presence of inflammatory mediators.