The Correlation Between Intervertebral Disc Vacuum Phenomenon And Modic Changes Of Lumbar Spine

Objective:To investigate the correlation between lumbar vacuum disc and Modic changes of lumbar spinal endplate.Materials and methods:In a retrospective study, we reviewed the DR and MRI studies of the lumbosacral spines of106consecutive patients presenting with CT proved to have lumbar intervertebral disc vacuum phenomenon at one or more disk levels. The prevalence and location of vacuum phenomenon and Modic changes of adjacent endplate, as well as their relationship, was also investigated.Results:Among530discs of106cases of patients,61discs (11.5%) on DR,164discs (30.9%) on CT,101discs (19.0%) on MRI were involved with vacuum phenomenon, vacuum phenomenon of lumbar disc on CT mainly occurred in L5/S1level (65of106discs;61.3%), then L4/5level (44of106discs;41.5%). Of these discs,125discs (23.6%) were involved with Modic changes. The prevalence of type Ⅰ, type Ⅱ and type III of Modic changes were3.6%,17.9%and2.1%. Modic changes of lumbar endplate mainly occurred in L5/S1level (52of106discs;49%), then L4/5level (32of106discs;30.2%). There was a significant correlation between the presence of intra-discal vacuum phenomenon and Modic changes of adjacent endplate in L4/5level (p<0.05) and L5/S1level (p<0.05).Conclusion:CT is the most accurate method to diagnose the vacuum phenomenon.There is close relationship between vacuum phenomenon of lumbar intervertebral disc and Modic changes of corresponding vertebral endplate in our small sample, but whether vacuum phenomenon cause Modic changes, or vice versa, remain to be clarified in future research.