An Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Images of Lumbar Discs in Thirty-three Adolescents

Thirty-three magnetic resonance images of the cases under the age of twenty-five years were evaluated. Two groups were compared; one was a control in which eleven were imaged because of the sprain of the low back, and the other was a symptomatic group in which twenty-two sustained low back pain. There were two major findings in the NMR images: low intensity in the nucleus and posterior protrusion of the disc materials, which were observed more often in the cases of the symptomatic group than in the control group. Close relationship between posterior disc protrusion and clinical manifestation of low back pain was suspected. Multi-leveled abnormalities were specially noted in the symptomatic cases. Existence of Schmorl's nodules had no clinical meaning and no relation with changes of the discs on the NMR images.