The association of combination of disc degeneration, end plate signal change, and Schmorl node with low back pain in a large population study: the Wakayama Spine Study

Uneven intervertebral motion sharing is related to disc degeneration and is greater in patients with chronic, non-specific low back pain: an in vivo, cross-sectional cohort comparison of intervertebral dynamics using quantitative fluoroscopy

“…The strong associations found here between disc degeneration and uneven intervertebral motion in patients, but not in controls, seem consistent with this. It is also consistent with other recent research, which found that disc degeneration was associated with low back pain, especially when associated with end-plate signal change [11,44,45]. However, unlike the present work, these studies used MRI disc degeneration grading, while radiographic grading based on structural aspects rather than biochemical changes may be better correlated with pain when considered alongside intervertebral motion patterns.…”

“…It is also considered to be related to intervertebral disc degeneration [11]. However, no reliable diagnostic tool that could help a clinician to determine if a disc is the source of the pain in patients with chronic LBP is currently available [12].…”

Chronic low back pain in relation to Modic changes, bony endplate lesions, and disc degeneration in a prospective MRI study

“…Schmorl lesions associated with unspecified Modic changes and disc degeneration also in a recent cross-sectional population study [23]. In another one, Schmorl lesions, Modic changes, and disc degeneration together were associated with LBP, but none of them alone [24]. Modic changes and bony endplates have nociceptive receptors, and in bony endplate defects, their number is increased [16].…”

Osteoarthritis year in review 2015: imaging

“…In another community-based cross-sectional study, lumbar spine facet joint OA, identified by multi-detector CT, was associated with low back pain in women but not men 54 . Vertebral endplate lesions (Modic change) were an independent risk factor for episodes of severe and disabling low back pain in middle-aged women 55 , while the combination of disc degeneration and end plate signal change was highly associated with low back pain 56 . Three forms of vertebral endplate lesions exist, according to their appearance on T1 and T2 weighted-images, each with varied histological phenotypes 57 .…”