Lumbar Multifidus Muscle Fatty Atrophy and Lumbar Disc Degeneration: Are they Associated in Middle Aged Patients with Low Backache?

Introduction: Low backache being one of the most common problems faced in society mainly due to sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical activity which inturn leads overweight, obesity atrophy paraspinal muscles. Disc prolapse is causes low backache. Hence, knowing aetiological factors treatment same at an early stage beneficial. Aim: To determine association between grades lumbar disc degeneration with degree fatty infiltration multifidus muscle middle aged patients using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Materials Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from April 2020 February 2021 Kempegowda Institute Medical Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, a population 201 who complaints back pain for more than three months. All met inclusion exclusion criteria underwent plain MRI Lumbosacral (LS) spine 16 channel 1.5 tesla strength MR machine. Lumbar intervertebral graded according Pfirrmann classification T2 sequence sagittal plane. For evaluation muscle, axial T2-weighted slices were used detect cross-sectional area right left involvement. Chi-square test find varying severity fat (L)4-L5 L5-Sacral (S) 1 regions. Results: There significant grade p-value <0.001 relation L4-L5 0.03 L5-S1 spaces. Most had III both L4/L5 L5/S1. Conclusion: 3 L5/S1 levels.