Sabnis AB, Chamoli U, Diwan AD. Is L5-S1 motion segment different from the rest? A radiographic kinematic assessment of 72 patients with chronic low back pain.
Eur Spine J 2017;
27:1127-1135. [PMID:
29181575 DOI:
10.1007/s00586-017-5400-4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE
The relationship between biomechanical instability and degenerative changes in the lumbar spine in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients remains controversial. The main objective of this retrospective radiographical study was to evaluate changes in kinematics at different lumbar levels (in particular the L5-S1 level) with progressive grades of disc degeneration and facet joint osteoarthritis in CLBP patients.
METHODS
Using standing neutral and dynamic flexion/extension (Fx/Ex) radiographs of the lumbar spine, in vivo segmental kinematics at L1-L2 through L5-S1 were evaluated in 72 consecutive CLBP patients. Disc degeneration was quantified using changes in signal intensity and central disc height on mid-sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) scans. Additionally, the presence or absence of facet joint osteoarthritis was noted on T2-weighted axial MR scans.
RESULTS
Disc degeneration and facet joint osteoarthritis occurred independent of each other at the L5-S1 level (p = 0.188), but an association was observed between the two at L4-L5 (p < 0.001) and L3-L4 (p < 0.05) levels. In the absence of facet joint osteoarthritis, the L5-S1 segment showed a greater range of motion (ROM) in Ex (3.3° ± 3.6°) and a smaller ROM in Fx (0.6° ± 4.2°) compared with the upper lumbar levels (p < 0.05), but the differences diminished in the presence of it. In the absence of facet joint osteoarthritis, no change in L5-S1 kinematics was observed with progressive disc degeneration, but in its presence, restabilisation of the L5-S1 segment was observed between mild and severe disc degeneration states.
CONCLUSION
The L5-S1 motion segment exhibited unique degenerative and kinematic characteristics compared with the upper lumbar motion segments. Disc degeneration and facet joint osteoarthritis occurred independent of each other at the L5-S1 level, but not at the other lumbar levels. Severe disc degeneration in the presence of facet joint osteoarthritis biomechanically restabilised the L5-S1 motion segment.
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