Objective A minimally invasive treatment of osteoporotic and nonosteoporotic thoracic and lumbar spine fractures is cement augmentation (kyphoplasty). Little is known about the impact on adjacent intervertebral discs. A quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach in addition to morphological MRI is desirable to evaluate changes in the intervertebral disc. Our study aims to evaluate the feasibility of T2 mapping for the detection of subtle changes in the intervertebral discs in spines after kyphoplasty. Design Intervertebral discs were assessed by quantitative MRI (3.0 T) using T2 relaxation time mapping. Region of interest (ROI; 6 per disc) analyses were performed. The ROIs at the anterior and posterior edges were interpreted as annulus fibrosus (AF). The 2 very inner zones were regarded as nucleus pulposus (NP) and the regions in between as intermediate transition zone. We compared T2 relaxation time values of intervertebral discs adjacent to the vertebrae after kyphoplasty with those nonadjacent to vertebrae after kyphoplasty, especially in the NP. Results The analysis of the ROIs showed that the intervertebral discs of the adjacent vertebral segments are associated with reduced T2 values compared to those that are nonadjacent to the affected vertebrae. Conclusion This study is to our knowledge the first investigation of intervertebral discs after kyphoplasty by quantitative MRI. Quantitative T2 mapping shows increased degeneration in adjacent intervertebral discs following kyphoplasty. Besides its contribution to a broader knowledge of postoperative changes after kyphoplasty, our findings may help to improve differentiation between healthy and degenerated intervertebral discs using these techniques.

(1) Background: To assess whether clinical outcomes correlate with tissue changes in the intervertebral discs (IVDs) after kyphoplasty as treatment for vertebral fractures, quantitative MRI was applied. (2) Methods: Quantitative T2 mapping acquired in a 3 T MRI scanner of the thoracolumbar spine was performed in 20 patients two years after kyphoplasty. The IVDs adjacent and nonadjacent to the treated vertebrae were divided into six regions of interest (ROI), which were further categorised into inner (ROI 2–5) and outer (ROI 1 and 6) parts of the IVDs, and the T2 values were analysed. T2 values of adjacent discs were correlated with the items of questionnaires evaluating the clinical outcome (i.e., 36-Item Short Form Survey). (3) Results: Lower T2 values in adjacent IVDs correlated with poorer physical outcome two years after kyphoplasty. The inner part of the IVDs adjacent to treated vertebrae showed statistically significant lower T2 values in segments L2/L3 and L3/L4 compared to nonadjacent ones. Patients with lower T2 values showed more pain and physical limitations in everyday life. (4) Conclusions: Quantitative T2 mapping can detect IVD degeneration in patients after kyphoplasty and correlates with the physical outcome. This technique could help to gain better insights into alterations in tissue composition following kyphoplasty and the consequences for the patients’ quality of life.