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Association between MRI findings and clinical outcomes in a period of 5 years after lumbar spine microdiscectomy

  • Original Article • SPINE - LUMBAR
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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To evaluate the associations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and pain, disability and quality of life before surgery and up to 5 years after lumbar microdiscectomy.

Materials and methods

Sixty-one patients who underwent one-level lumbar microdiscectomy by the same surgeon participated in this analytic, observational, prospective study. Lumbar spine MRI was performed preoperatively and 5 years postoperatively. Pain, disability and quality of life were measured with VAS, ODI, Roland Morris and SF-36 pre- and up to 5 years postoperatively. Subsequently associations between radiological findings and clinical outcomes were recorded.

Results

Before surgery patients with disc extrusion or sequestration, with increased thecal sac compression (d > 2/3), with Modic changes (MC) 2 and 3 on the operated level and Pfirrmann grades IV and V on the operated and both adjacent discs presented the worst preoperative clinical outcomes. MC preoperatively were not related with postoperative results, in contrast with the type of disc herniation and thecal sac compression. Preoperative Pfirrmann grade IV and V on the operated and both adjacent discs and postoperative MC 2 and 3 on the operated level were related to poor clinical outcomes 36–60 months post-discectomy.

Conclusions

Extrusion or sequestration of the operated disc, increased compression of thecal sac, MC 2 and 3 on the operated level and Pfirrmann grades IV and V on the operated and adjacent discs were associated with the worst clinical outcomes. Nerve root impingement, facet joint arthritis, perineural fibrosis and disc granulation tissue had no effect on clinical scores.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece

    Evangelos I. Papanastasiou, Emilios E. Pakos, Anastasios V. Korompilias & Ioannis D. Gelalis

  2. Department of Radiology, General Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Daphne J. Theodorou

  3. Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Stavroula J. Theodorou

  4. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, University of Ioannina Medical School, Ioannina, Greece

    Avraam Ploumis

Authors
  1. Evangelos I. Papanastasiou
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  2. Daphne J. Theodorou
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  3. Stavroula J. Theodorou
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  4. Emilios E. Pakos
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  5. Avraam Ploumis
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  6. Anastasios V. Korompilias
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  7. Ioannis D. Gelalis
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Correspondence to Evangelos I. Papanastasiou.

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Papanastasiou, E.I., Theodorou, D.J., Theodorou, S.J. et al. Association between MRI findings and clinical outcomes in a period of 5 years after lumbar spine microdiscectomy. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 30, 441–446 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-019-02588-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-019-02588-z

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