Evaluation of biomechanical alteration of the spinal intervertebral discs due to the degenerative process

Abstract

Background: With the progression of aging process, the degenerative process affect all organs throughout the body, including the intervertebral discs. The degeneration of intervertebral discs is the most important etiology for the back pain in human. Hence, having the knowledge of alterations in biomechanics of this structure due to the degeneration is of special importance. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study all patients referred to the Spinal Cord Clinic of Bahonar hospital (Kerman, Iran) because of their back pain were participated. The upright anteroposterior and lateral flexion-extension radiographs and MRI of the spine have been ordered for the diagnosis and treatment of the patients with back pain. The sagital translation and rotation and also anterior and posterior disc height in different grades of degenerations was analyzed. Results: The severity of the intervertebral disc degeneration has direct relation to aging. Anterior and posterior disc height was decreased with the progression of the degeneration. Translation and rotation in the sagital plane were decreased along with the progression of the grade of the degeneration and in direct relation to the posterior disc height. Conclusion: The degeneration trend is progressing with the advancement of aging and the disc space is decreasing along with the severity of degeneration, followed by a reduction in the translational and rotational movements of the spinal segments, so the grade 3 degeneration has been assumed to be equivalent to the stabilization phase of the motion segment.

Keywords

• Disc
• Radiography
• Translation