Table 1.
Radiographic system for grading disk degeneration on antero-posterior and lateral radiographs according to Mimura et al. [16]
| Lumbar radiographs in anterio-posterior and lateral position | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade of disk degeneration | Disk height changes (% of adjacent disc) | Osteophytesa | Endplate sclerosis | ||
| Normal | 0 = 100% | 0 | 0 points | 0: None | |
| I | 0–1 | 1 > 75% | 1 | 1–4 points | 1: Either endplate |
| II | 2–3 | 2 > 50% | 2 | 5–8 points | 2: Both endplates |
| III | 4–6 | 3 > 25% | 3 | 9–12 points | |
| IV | 7–10 | 4 < 25% | 4 | 13–16 points | |
aOsteophytes formation (sum of points on eight edges <3 mm 1 pt, > 3 mm 2 pt