The significance of osteophytes on lumbar vertebral bodies in relation to discographic findings.

Marginal osteophytes of the lumbar vertebral bodies have been related to the discographic findings in lumbar disc spaces. Every case of Scheuermann's anterior marginal epiphysitis was associated with a direct communication with the disc nucleus. Eleven per cent of discs with related 'traction' spurs were discographically normal Forty-three per cent of discs with related 'claw-type' osteophytes appeared normal with discography. It is concluded that when reported radiographs of the lumbosacral spine with osteophytes, particularly those of the claw-type, it is incorrect to describe these changes as representative of disc degeneration in the absence of unequivocal disc space narrowing.