Table 5.
Cumulative number of discs in the thoracolumbar spine (Th1-S1) for each classification system
| Thoracic spine | Lumbar spine | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climbers n = 180 | Controls n = 180 | Climbers n = 75 | Controls n = 75 | ||
| Pfirrmann | |||||
| – | – | – | 1 | 24 (32.0) | 26 (34.7) |
| 1–2 | 169 (93.9) | 149 (82.8) | 2 | 43 (57.4) | 34 (45.3) |
| 3 | 11 (6.1) | 27 (15) | 3 | 7 (9.3) | 14 (18.7) |
| 4 | – | 4 (2.2) | 4 | 1 (1.3) | 1 (1.3) |
| 5 | – | – | 5 | – | – |
| Total | 180 (100) | 180 (100) | Total | 75 (100) | 75 (100) |
| Modic | |||||
| 0 | 177 (98.3) | 179 (99.4) | 0 | 74 (98.7) | 74 (98.7) |
| 1 | 1 (0.6) | – | 1 | 1 (1.3) | – |
| 2 | 2 (1.1) | – | 2 | – | 1 (1.3) |
| 3 | – | 1 (0.6) | 3 | – | – |
| Total | 180 (100) | 180 (100) | Total | 75 (100) | 75 (100) |
| Modified Endplate defect score | |||||
| 1 | 164 (91.1) | 154 (85.6) | 1 | 70 (93.4) | 65 (86.7) |
| 2 | 11 (6.1) | 20 (11.1) | 2 | 4 (5.3) | 10 (13.3) |
| 3 | 5 (2.8) | 6 (3.3) | 3 | 1 (1.3) | 0 |
| 4 | – | – | 4 | – | – |
| Total | 180 (100) | 180 (100) | Total | 75 (100) | 75 (100) |
Number of IVDs/levels per grade are presented
For dichotomous/categorical variables n (%) is presented
In the climbing group, 43 out of 75 IVDs (57.4%) in the lumbar spine were of Pfirrmann grade 2, seven IVDs (9.3%) grade 3 and one IVD of grade 4. One out of 75 segments displayed Modic Type 1 changes, and no Type 2 or Type 3 changes were found. According to the modified Endplate defect score, four out of 75 IVDs (5.3%) had adjacent endplates scored as 2 and one level scored as 3. No endplates were of score 4