OBJECTIVE: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) could be a predisposing factor for early degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs (IVD). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular effect of LLD on IVDs. METHODS: IVDs of Eleven patients (25.6 ± 4.3years) with LLD (>10 mm) and 14 control subjects (23.9 ± 3.5years) were compared using a 3T-MR scanner. Morphological T2-weighted and glycosaminoglycan-chemical-exchange-saturation-transfer (gagCEST) sequences were performed. RESULTS: No differences in morphological Pfirrmann grading were found (p > 0.05). In contrast, nucleus-pulposus-gagCEST-values of L5/S1 were significantly lower (p = 0.0008). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that LLD is a predisposing factor for molecular IVD alterations, which are detectable even before morphological pathologies could be found.
OBJECTIVE: Leg length discrepancy (LLD) could be a predisposing factor for early degeneration of lumbar intervertebral discs (IVD). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the molecular effect of LLD on IVDs. METHODS: IVDs of Eleven patients (25.6 ± 4.3years) with LLD (>10 mm) and 14 control subjects (23.9 ± 3.5years) were compared using a 3T-MR scanner. Morphological T2-weighted and glycosaminoglycan-chemical-exchange-saturation-transfer (gagCEST) sequences were performed. RESULTS: No differences in morphological Pfirrmann grading were found (p > 0.05). In contrast, nucleus-pulposus-gagCEST-values of L5/S1 were significantly lower (p = 0.0008). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that LLD is a predisposing factor for molecular IVD alterations, which are detectable even before morphological pathologies could be found.
Entities:
Keywords:
Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST); Glycosaminoglycan (GAG); Intervertebral disc degeneration; Leg length discrepancy; Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); Preventive medicine
Authors: T K Taylor; J Melrose; D Burkhardt; P Ghosh; L E Claes; A Kettler; H J Wilke Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2000-12-01 Impact factor: 3.468