Paravertebral injection of botulinum toxin-A reduces lumbar vertebral bone quality

Correlation Between Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and Paraspinal Muscle Fat Infiltration Based on QCT: A Cross-Sectional Study

To investigate the correlation between fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscle and bone mineral density (BMD). In total, 367 subjects (182 men and 185 women) who underwent quantitative computed tomography (QCT) examination were enrolled in this study. A QCT Pro workstation was used to obtain the mean BMD of the lower lumbar spine (L3, L4, L5) and fat fraction (FF) of the paraspinal muscle (psoas and erector spinae) at the corresponding levels. The patient's age, sex, body mass index, number of previous vertebral fractures, physical activity level, and visual analog scale (VAS) score for lower back pain were recorded. For categorical variables, one-way ANOVA and independent-samples t tests were performed. Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze the correlations among continuous variables. Influential factors were analyzed by multivariate linear regression analysis. Regarding the mean paraspinal muscle FF, there were significant differences between the different vertebral fracture groups (P < 0.05). Age and VAS score showed a positive correlation with the mean paraspinal muscle FF (r = 0.389, 0.454). BMD showed a negative correlation with the mean paraspinal muscle FF (r =  - 0.721). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that vertebral fracture (β = 0.851, P = 0.021) and BMD (β =  - 4.341, P = 0.004) were independent factors of the mean paraspinal muscle FF. This study demonstrated that an advanced age, a greater VAS score, a higher number of vertebral fractures, and a lower BMD may be associated with more severe fatty infiltration of the paraspinal muscle.

Relationship between oseteoporosis with fatty infiltration of paraspinal muscles based on QCT examination

INTRODUCTION

To investigate the correlation between paraspinal muscles features and osteoporosis in lumbar spine.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 367 subjects who underwent quantitative computed tomography (QCT) examination were enrolled in this study. QCT pro workstation was used to obtain the mean bone mineral density (BMD) of the lower lumbar spine. Fat fraction (FF) and cross-section area (CSA) of the paraspinal muscles at the corresponding levels were measured. All participants were divided into normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups. One-way ANOVA and independent samples t tests were performed to compare differences between groups. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients and partial correlation analysis after controlling for confounding factors were used to analyze the correlation between BMD and paraspinal muscles measurements.

RESULTS

Among the 367 participants included, 116 were in the normal group, 130 in the osteopenia group and 121 in the osteoporosis group. There were significant differences among the three groups for the mean and multifidus FF. BMD showed negative correlations with the FF of the paraspinal muscles. Multifidus and mean FF showed the best correlation (r = - 0.654, - 0.777). There were also significant differences in the mean and multifidus FF between different age groups, while after controlling for confounding factors, there was no correlation between age and FF of the paraspinal muscles.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study demonstrated the association of BMD with fatty infiltration of paraspinal muscles. Different muscles might have specific effects in different sex and age groups.