Table 2.
Number (percent) of graded disc degeneration1 by age group and disc level of study participants with chronic low back pain (n=247).
| Age group Graded disc |
L1-2 | L2-3 | L3-4 | L4-5 | L5-S1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < 402 | (n=77) | (n=77) | (n=77) | (n=77) | (n=72) |
| None | 71 (92) | 66 (86) | 64 (83) | 69 (90) | 55 (76) |
| Mild | 5 (6) | 10 (13) | 13 (17) | 7 (9) | 14 (19) |
| Mod-severe | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1) | 3 (4) |
| 40–492 | (n=68) | (n=68) | (n=68) | (n=67) | (n=64) |
| None | 50 (74) | 40 (59) | 34 (50) | 35 (52) | 44 (69) |
| Mild | 15 (22) | 27 (40) | 30 (44) | 26 (39) | 7 (11) |
| Mod-severe | 3 (4) | 1 (1) | 4 (6) | 6 (9) | 13 (20) |
| 50–592 | (n=78) | (n=78) | (n=79) | (n=79) | (n=72) |
| None | 45 (58) | 36 (46) | 25 (32) | 33 (42) | 38 (53) |
| Mild | 32 (41) | 34 (44) | 43 (54) | 40 (51) | 21 (29) |
| Mod-severe | 1 (1) | 8 (10) | 11 (14) | 6 (8) | 13 (18) |
| 60–652 | (n=22) | (n=22) | (n=22) | (n=22) | (n=22) |
| None | 8 (36) | 2 (9) | 2 (9) | 5 (23) | 7 (32) |
| Mild | 9 (41) | 11 (50) | 11 (50) | 10 (45) | 9 (41) |
| Mod-severe | 5 (23) | 9 (41) | 9 (41) | 7 (32) | 6 (27) |
1
Disc degeneration graded according to Lane. None = no observable height loss or osteophytosis at disc level. Mild = mild height loss or mild osteophytosis. Mod-severe = moderate to severe height loss or moderate to severe osteophytosis.
2
Total numbers are due to gradable discs. Hypoplastic/rudimentary discs were not graded.