Relationship between sedimentation sign and morphological grade in symptomatic XXXX .

@entity2649 @entity1 @entity850 @entity1643
PURPOSE: We aimed to study the relationship between two morphological parameters recently described on MRI images in relation to @entity2649 ( @entity2649 ): the first is the sedimentation sign (SedS) and the second is the morphological grading of lumbar @entity850 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRIs from a total of 137 @entity1 were studied. From those, 110 were issued from a prospective database of symptomatic @entity2649 @entity1 , of whom 73 were treated surgically and 37 conservatively based on symptom severity. A third group consisting of 27 subjects complaining of @entity1643 ( @entity1643 ) served as control. Severity of @entity850 was judged at disc level using the four A to D grade morphological classification. The presence of a SedS was judged at pedicle level, above or below the site of maximal @entity850 . RESULTS: A positive SedS was observed in 58, 69 and 76% of @entity1 demonstrating B, C and D morphology, respectively, but in none with grade A morphology. The SedS was positive in 67 and 35% of the surgically and conservatively treated @entity1 , respectively, and in 8% of the @entity1643 group. C and D morphological grades were present in 97 and 35% of @entity1 in the surgically and conservatively treated group, respectively, and in 18% of the @entity1643 group. Presence of a positive SedS carried an increased risk of being submitted to surgery in the symptomatic @entity2649 group (OR 3.5). This risk was even higher in the @entity2649 @entity1 demonstrating grade C or D morphology (OR 65). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: One-third of surgically treated @entity2649 @entity1 do not present a SedS. This sign appears to be a lesser predictor of treatment modality in our setting of symptomatic @entity2649 @entity1 compared to the severity of @entity850 judged by the morphological grade.
