Redefining lumbar spinal stenosis as a developmental syndrome: an MRI-based multivariate analysis of findings in 709 patients throughout the 16- to 82-year age spectrum

OBJECTIVEUsing an imaging-based prospective comparative study of 709 eligible patients that was designed to assess lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in the ages between 16 and 82 years, the authors aimed to determine whether they could formulate radiological structural differences between the developmental and degenerative types of LSS.METHODSMRI structural changes were prospectively reviewed from 2 age cohorts of patients: those who presented clinically before the age of 60 years and those who presented at 60 years or older. Categorical degeneration variables at L1–S1 segments were compared. A multivariate comparative analysis of global radiographic degenerative variables and spinal dimensions was conducted in both cohorts. The age at presentation was correlated as a covariable.RESULTSA multivariate analysis demonstrated no significant between-groups differences in spinal canal dimensions and stenosis grades in any segments after age was adjusted for. There were no significant variances between the 2 cohorts in global degenerative variables, except at the L4–5 and L5–S1 segments, but with only small effect sizes. Age-related degeneration was found in the upper lumbar segments (L1–4) more than the lower lumbar segments (L4–S1). These findings challenge the notion that stenosis at L4–5 and L5–S1 is mainly associated with degenerative LSS.CONCLUSIONSIntegration of all the morphometric and qualitative characteristics of the 2 LSS cohorts provides evidence for a developmental background for LSS. Based on these findings the authors propose the concept of LSS as a developmental syndrome with superimposed degenerative changes. Further studies can be conducted to clarify the clinical definition of LSS and appropriate management approaches.

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Facet Tropism and Orientation: Risk Factors for Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/2453503 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Janan Abbas ◽

Natan Peled ◽

Israel Hershkovitz ◽

Kamal Hamoud

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Lumbar Spine ◽

Spinal Stenosis ◽

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis ◽

Control Group ◽

Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis ◽

Lower Lumbar Spine ◽

Lumbar Spinal ◽

Lower Lumbar ◽

Facet Tropism

The aim of this study is to establish whether facet tropism (FT) and orientation (FO) are associated with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS). A retrospective computerized tomography (CT) study including 274 individuals was divided into two groups: control (82 males and 81 females) and stenosis (59 males and 52 females). All participants have undergone high-resolution CT scan of the lumbar spine in the same position. FT and FO were measured at L1-2 to L5-S1. Significant sagittal FO was noted in the stenosis males (L2-3 to L4-5) and females (L2-3 to L5-S1) compared to the controls. The prevalence of FT was remarkably greater in the stenosis males (L4-5, L5-S1) and females (L3-4, L5-S1) compared to their counterparts in the control group. Our results also showed that FT (L3-4 to L5-S1) increases approximately 2.9 times the likelihood for DLSS development. This study indicates that FO and FT in the lower lumbar spine are significantly associated with DLSS.

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Redefining lumbar spinal stenosis as a developmental syndrome: does age matter?

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2019.2.spine181383 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 357-365 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sameer Kitab ◽

Ghaith Habboub ◽

Salam B. Abdulkareem ◽

Muthanna B. Alimidhatti ◽

Edward Benzel

Keyword(s):

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Spinal Stenosis ◽

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis ◽

Spinal Canal ◽

Age Groups ◽

Lumbar Intervertebral Disc ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Study Results ◽

Lumbar Segment ◽

Lumbar Spinal

OBJECTIVEAge is commonly thought to be a risk factor in defining lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) degenerative or developmental subtypes. This article is a follow-up to a previous article (“Redefining Lumbar Spinal Stenosis as a Developmental Syndrome: An MRI-Based Multivariate Analysis of Findings in 709 Patients Throughout the 16- to 82-Year Age Spectrum”) that describes the radiological differences between developmental and degenerative types of LSS. MRI-based analysis of “degeneration” variables and spinal canal morphometric characteristics of LSS segments have been thought to correlate with age at presentation.METHODSThe authors performed a re-analysis of data from their previously reported prospective MRI-based study, stratifying data from the 709 cases into 3 age categories of equal size (instead of the original < 60 vs ≥ 60 years). Relative spinal canal dimensions, as well as radiological degenerative variables from L1 to S1, were analyzed across age groups in a multivariate mode. The total degenerative scale score (TDSS) for each lumbar segment from L1 to S1 was calculated for each patient. The relationships between age and qualitative stenosis grades, TDSS, disc degeneration, and facet degeneration were analyzed using Pearson’s product-moment correlation and multiple regression.RESULTSMultivariate analysis of TDSS and spinal canal dimensions revealed highly significant differences across the 3 age groups at L2–3 and L3–4 and a weaker, but still significant, association with changes at L5–S1. Age helped to explain only 9.6% and 12.2% of the variance in TDSS at L1–2 and L2–3, respectively, with a moderate positive correlation, and 7.8%, 1.2%, and 1.9% of the variance in TDSS at L3–4, L4–5, and L5–S1, respectively, with weak positive correlation. Age explained 24%, 26%, and 18.4% of the variance in lumbar intervertebral disc (LID) degeneration at L1–2, L2–3, and L3–4, respectively, while it explained only 6.2% and 7.2% of the variance of LID degeneration at L4–5 and L5–S1, respectively. Age explained only 2.5%, 4.0%, 1.2%, 0.8%, and 0.8% of the variance in facet degeneration at L1–2, L2–3, L3–4, L4–5, and L5–S1, respectively.CONCLUSIONSAge at presentation correlated weakly with degeneration variables and spinal canal morphometries in LSS segments. Age correlated with upper lumbar segment (L1–4) degeneration more than with lower segment (L4–S1) degeneration. The actual chronological age of the patients did not significantly correlate with the extent of degenerative pathology of the lumbar stenosis segments. These study results lend support for a developmental contribution to LSS.

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