Development and reliability of a systematic method to evaluate lumbar paraspinal muscle size and quality in computed tomography images.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lumbar paraspinal muscles (LPMs) are critical for spinal stability, and their morphological alterations are associated with chronic low back pain (cLBP). Computed tomography (CT) offers a feasible alternative to magnetic resonance imaging for assessing LPM morphology; however, its broader use has been hindered by inconsistent measurement methods and limited reliability data. This study aimed to describe a systematic CT-based method for evaluating LPM cross-sectional area (CSA) and attenuation (MA) in adults with cLBP and to determine its intra and inter-examiner procedural reliability.

Methods

High-resolution CT images were used to analyze bilateral LPMs: erector spinae (L1-L5), multifidi (L1-S1), psoas (L3), and quadratus lumborum (L3). Two trained examiners inde

SUBMITTER: Carlesso CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12753261 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature