Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation
Abstract Objectives To quantitatively assess the degeneration of paraspinal and pelvic muscles in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) using MRI q-Dixon and to explore their potential association with LDH. Materials and methods The cross-sectional area (CSA) and proton density fat fraction (PD...
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| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Insights into Imaging |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-025-02064-9 |
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| author | Jianping Wang Zhenhua Zhao Ding Liang Xiao Xu Dingbo Shu |
| author_facet | Jianping Wang Zhenhua Zhao Ding Liang Xiao Xu Dingbo Shu |
| author_sort | Jianping Wang |
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| description | Abstract Objectives To quantitatively assess the degeneration of paraspinal and pelvic muscles in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) using MRI q-Dixon and to explore their potential association with LDH. Materials and methods The cross-sectional area (CSA) and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) of the multifidus (MF), erector spinae (ES), psoas major (PM), and gluteus medius (GM), as well as the vertebral bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF), lumbar lordosis (LL), and sacral slope (SS), were measured in both LDH and control groups. Results A total of 85 LDH patients and 48 controls were included. No significant differences in CSA were observed between groups (all p > 0.05). However, PDFF values were significantly higher in the LDH group for all muscles compared to controls (all p < 0.05). After adjustment, the PDFF differences in MFL4/5, ESL4/5, PML3/4, and PML4/5 remained statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although bilateral muscle asymmetry was observed in several muscles, these differences were no longer significant after adjustment (p > 0.05). No significant differences in VBFF, LL, or SS were found (all p > 0.05). Conclusions LDH patients exhibit increased fat infiltration in the MF, ES, PM, and GM compared to controls, suggesting a potential association between pelvic and paraspinal muscle degeneration and LDH. Critical relevance statement The MRI q-Dixon technique effectively and noninvasively detects early degeneration of the paraspinal muscles and GM, indicating their potential association with LDH and enabling more targeted rehabilitation strategies. Key Points Spine and muscle changes affect LDH, but their relationship remains unclear. Fat infiltration is more sensitive than CSA for detecting muscle degeneration. LDH patients exhibit greater paraspinal muscle and GM degeneration. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dfa39b06533247e39db2f330c1a434cd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1869-4101 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insights into Imaging |
| spelling | doaj-art-dfa39b06533247e39db2f330c1a434cd2025-08-20T03:42:49ZengSpringerOpenInsights into Imaging1869-41012025-08-0116111010.1186/s13244-025-02064-9Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniationJianping Wang0Zhenhua Zhao1Ding Liang2Xiao Xu3Dingbo Shu4Department of Radiology, Shaoxing People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Shaoxing People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Shaoxing People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Shaoxing People’s HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Shaoxing People’s HospitalAbstract Objectives To quantitatively assess the degeneration of paraspinal and pelvic muscles in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) using MRI q-Dixon and to explore their potential association with LDH. Materials and methods The cross-sectional area (CSA) and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) of the multifidus (MF), erector spinae (ES), psoas major (PM), and gluteus medius (GM), as well as the vertebral bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF), lumbar lordosis (LL), and sacral slope (SS), were measured in both LDH and control groups. Results A total of 85 LDH patients and 48 controls were included. No significant differences in CSA were observed between groups (all p > 0.05). However, PDFF values were significantly higher in the LDH group for all muscles compared to controls (all p < 0.05). After adjustment, the PDFF differences in MFL4/5, ESL4/5, PML3/4, and PML4/5 remained statistically significant (p < 0.05). Although bilateral muscle asymmetry was observed in several muscles, these differences were no longer significant after adjustment (p > 0.05). No significant differences in VBFF, LL, or SS were found (all p > 0.05). Conclusions LDH patients exhibit increased fat infiltration in the MF, ES, PM, and GM compared to controls, suggesting a potential association between pelvic and paraspinal muscle degeneration and LDH. Critical relevance statement The MRI q-Dixon technique effectively and noninvasively detects early degeneration of the paraspinal muscles and GM, indicating their potential association with LDH and enabling more targeted rehabilitation strategies. Key Points Spine and muscle changes affect LDH, but their relationship remains unclear. Fat infiltration is more sensitive than CSA for detecting muscle degeneration. LDH patients exhibit greater paraspinal muscle and GM degeneration. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-025-02064-9Lumbar disc herniationParaspinal muscleGluteus mediusDegenerationProton density fat fraction |
| spellingShingle | Jianping Wang Zhenhua Zhao Ding Liang Xiao Xu Dingbo Shu Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation Insights into Imaging Lumbar disc herniation Paraspinal muscle Gluteus medius Degeneration Proton density fat fraction |
| title | Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation |
| title_full | Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation |
| title_fullStr | Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation |
| title_short | Paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation |
| title_sort | paraspinal muscles and gluteus medius fat infiltration are both associated with lumbar disc herniation |
| topic | Lumbar disc herniation Paraspinal muscle Gluteus medius Degeneration Proton density fat fraction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13244-025-02064-9 |
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