Degenerative relationships in lumbar intervertebral discs and facet joints: an MRI-based comparative study of asymptomatic individuals and patients with chronic and intermittent low back pain.

ABSTRACT: Degeneration of intervertebral discs and facet joints are common conditions that are thought to be interrelated. This study aimed to investigate the morphological interplay between disc and facet degeneration, as well as relationships between adjacent discs and facets. This prospective study involved 712 participants (307 males, 405 females) categorized into three groups: no back pain (no-BP), intermittent (iLBP), and chronic low back pain (cLBP). The Pfirrmann classification was used to assess intervertebral disc degeneration of index and adjacent segments, while the Fujiwara classification evaluated facet joint degeneration. Spearman's correlation coefficient analyzed relationships between degenerative changes in discs and facets. Overall, from the 712 participants 254 were with no-BP, 1

SUBMITTER: Schmidt H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12014670 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature