Change in the dimensions of the lumbar area muscles after surgery: MRI analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to assess the change in the dimensions of the lumbar muscles in patients with chronic lower back pain using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and to determine pre/post effects of surgery. Methods: We enrolled 28 individuals (13F/15M; age: 45.39±11.56 years) whose L2-S1 muscle measurements were obtained using MRI, before and at follow-up 6-12 months after surgery. The control group comprising 37 individuals (18F/19M; age: 34.41±10.72 years) who had no lumbar pathology but for whom retrospective archive images were available. In the axial MRI analysis, the cross-sections of m.multifidus, mm.erector spinae and m.psoas major on both sides were measured with the 'closed polygon' technique. Results: The L2-3 and L4-5 levels of the m.multifidus on the right side, the L2-3, L4-5 and L5-S1 levels of the m.multifidus and the L5-S1 levels of the mm. erector spinae on the left side cross-sectional areas were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). The right-side m.multifidus and the left-side mm.erector spinae sectional areas were significantly lower than the pre-surgery values at the L5-S1 levels (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that chronic lower back pain causes atrophy in the lumbar muscles and established the existence and continuity of atrophy after surgery.