Abstract
The frequency, distribution, and histological characteristics of vertebral rim lesions have been studied at D11 and L4 in 117 post-mortem spines in subjects aged 13-96 years. Only one lesion was found in patients less than 30 years, but thereafter the frequency increased with age. At least one rim was affected in the majority of patients greater than or equal to 50 years. They were found more frequently in the upper than the lower rim and they were also more common anteriorly than posteriorly. Lesions were associated with focal avulsion of the annulus in an otherwise healthy disc or with annular tears running into the rim. Rim lesions can be recognised radiographically by the presence of the vacuum phenomenon, vertebral rim sclerosis with or without a cup-shaped defect in the rim and osteophytes confined to one side of the disc. The histological appearances suggest a traumatic aetiology, and since bone is known to be supplied with pain sensitive nerve endings the lesions may be important in the general context of low back pain.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Cawley M. I., Chalmers T. M., Kellgren J. H., Ball J. Destructive lesions of vertebral bodies in ankylosing spondylitis. Ann Rheum Dis. 1972 Sep;31(5):345–358. doi: 10.1136/ard.31.5.345. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HOWORTH M. B. Fracture of the spine. Am J Surg. 1956 Oct;92(4):573–593. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9610(56)80090-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hilton R. C., Ball J., Benn R. T. Annular tears in the dorsolumbar spine. Ann Rheum Dis. 1980 Dec;39(6):533–538. doi: 10.1136/ard.39.6.533. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hilton R. C., Ball J., Benn R. T. Vertebral end-plate lesions (Schmorl's nodes) in the dorsolumbar spine. Ann Rheum Dis. 1976 Apr;35(2):127–132. doi: 10.1136/ard.35.2.127. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Yoshizawa H., O'Brien J. P., Smith W. T., Trumper M. The neuropathology of intervertebral discs removed for low-back pain. J Pathol. 1980 Oct;132(2):95–104. doi: 10.1002/path.1711320202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]