Comparison of the Cross-Sectional Area and Fat Infiltration of Paraspinal Muscles in Patients with Chronic and Acute Low Back Pain

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Departments of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Fellowship Resident, Departments of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

4 Resident, Departments of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the cross-sectional area (CSA) and fat infiltration of paraspinal muscles in the level of L5 in patients with chronic and acute low back pain (LBP).Methods: This pilot study was done on 30 patients with acute and 30 with chronic low back pain. Body mass index (BMI), pain score (using visual analog scale), patients’ disability (using Oswestry Disability Index), duration of pain, cross-sectional area of paraspinal muscles, and fat infiltration in multifidus, erector spinae, and psoas muscles (using magnetic resonance imaging) were measured and compared in the two groups of patients.Findings: Patients body mass index and pain score were not significantly different between studied groups (P > 0.050 for both). Patients’ disability index score was significantly higher in acute low back pain group than chronic group (P = 0.007). The mean cross-sectional area in multifidus, erector spinae, and psoas muscles was not significantly different between the groups (P > 0.050 for both). The mean muscles fat infiltration was significantly higher in chronic low back pain than the acute grroup (P < 0.05). Body mass index had a direct significant relation with the cross-sectional area of multifidus (r = 0.280, P = 0.030) and psoas (r = 0.271, P = 0.036) muscles.Conclusion: The higher rate of fat infiltration of paraspinal muscles in patients with chronic low back pain compared to those with acute pain may show its potential role in chronic low back pain.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 36, Issue 474 - Serial Number 474
March and April 2018
Pages 337-343

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 March 2018
  • Revise Date:
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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