Deformation-field magnetic resonance imaging for non-invasive evaluation of disc deformation in vivo

Abstract

In vivo evaluation of the intervertebral disc (IVD) during spinal loading may yield greater insight into the biomechanical properties of the IVD. This study aimed to investigate how the lumbar IVD deforms during loading, quantified with a novel non-invasive method utilizing MRI and image registration. Findings showed that the intradiscal deformation depends not only on disc degeneration but also on the lumbar spine level. This highlights the need for tools that can evaluate the mechanical properties of the disc in vivo. The proposed method offers a possibility to depict and track biomechanical changes non-invasively while characterizing disc structures in detail.