Spinous process deviation and disc degeneration in lumbosacral segment

BackgroundSpinous process deviation is a common variation in lumbar spine, and some authors suggest that spinous process deviation may lead to imbalance between muscles on either side of the spinous process. We assume that spinous process deviation may be correlated to the disc degeneration in lumbosacral segment; however, no studies have been published in this regard.Material and methodsA total of 465 outpatients with lumbar degenerative diseases were reviewed retrospectively, and the included patients were divided into three groups of L4 deviation, L5 deviation, and no deviation. The deviation angle of L4 and L5 spinous process was measured on computed tomography using Image J, the degeneration of the corresponding disc was evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging using the Modified Pfirrmann Grading System, and the correlation between spinous process deviation and lumbar disc degeneration was studied.ResultsA total of 118 cases were included in the present study, and there were 69 cases in the no deviation group, 30 in the L4 deviation group, and 19 in the L5 deviation group. No significant difference in the grade of disc degeneration between the no deviation group and L4 (P > 0.05) or L5 deviation group (P > 0.05) was noted. In the L4 and L5 deviation groups, there was no significant correlation between the deviation angle of spinous process and grade of corresponding intervertebral disc degeneration (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe deviation of spinous process does not correlate to the degeneration of intervertebral disc in lumbosacral segments.