Computed Tomographic Analysis of the Quality of Trunk Muscles in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Lumbar Discectomy Patients

Description: Conclusions CT comparison of MF, LES and PS muscle condition between lumbar discectomy patients without pain and patients with protracted postoperative pain showed a smaller fat-free muscle CSA of the MF at all levels examined, a smaller fat- free muscle CSA of the LES at the L3 level, and more fat in the PS in patients with pain. The level of operation was not found to be of importance. The present results suggest a general lumbar muscle dysfunction in the pain group, in particular of the deep stabilizing muscle system.
Computed Tomographic Analysis of the Quality of Trunk Muscles in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Lumbar Discectomy Patients Katie GW Bouche , Olivier Vanovermeire , Veerle K Stevens , Pascal L Coorevits , Jacques J Caemaert , Dirk C Cambier , Koenraad Verstraete , Guy G Vanderstraeten and Lieven A Danneels BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2011, 12:65