Schmorl's Nodes of the Lumbar Spine: Are They Simply Normal

Abstract

Materials and Methods: Seventy-five patients with one or more SN, as seen on lumbar spine MRI were studied. Using a 1. 5T MR unit, the number and location of SN, their site on the end plate, adjacent disc changes and lesions associated and not associated with SN, and accompanying associated bony spinal stenosis were retrospectively investigated .Results: Among the 75 patients, 230 SN were noted in 375 verte bral bodies; they were relatively frequently located on the second (65 , 28.3 %) and third (65 , 28.3 %) lumbar vertebrae. The most common end-plate site of SN was the posterior one-third portion(160; 69.6 %). In 450 discs of these 75 patients, 172 lesions were noted; those associated with SN (76 / 167, 45 .5 %) were more common than those not thus associated(96 /283, 33.9%)(p < 0.05), and those associated with SN were relatively frequently located on intervertebral disc L2-3 or L3-4(p < 0.05). Thirty-seven SN (16.1 %)were associated with bony spinal stenosis .Conclusion : Because it is frequently associated with disc lesions and bony spinal stenosis, SN of the lumbar spine may be a pathologic condition rather than a normal variant.Index words : Spine, abnormalities Spine, MR Spine, intervertebral disks Spine, stenosisAddress reprint requests to: Ky ung