摘要：

STUDY DESIGN:: A comparative case-control study. OBJECTIVE:: To quantify the degree of paraspinal muscle changes in degenerative lumbar kyphosis () patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanning. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:: Although the pathophysiology of is not completely understood, extensive degeneration and weakness of the lumbar extensor muscles are thought to underlie the condition in most patients. However, there is no ideal method to quantify the degree of fat infiltration and of paraspinal muscles in patients with . METHODS:: The study group comprised 20 patients with and 20 healthy volunteers. The cross-sectional areas () of the psoas, erector spinae (ES), multifidus (MF), quadratus lumborum, and vertebral body (VB) were measured. The ratio between the of the muscle and the VB was used to evaluate lumbar muscularity. The degree of was evaluated by measuring the ratio between the mean signal intensity of the muscle and that of the subcutaneous fat within regions of interest. RESULTS:: Muscularity in the MF and ES was not significantly different between the and control groups at L1, L2, or L3, but was significantly different at L4 (ES; P=0.001, MF; P=0.001) and L5 (ES; P=0.001, MF; P=0.015). The mean signal intensities of the ES and MF were higher in the group than in the control group at all levels. The degree of in the ES and MF was significantly higher in the group than in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:: Quantitative analysis using MRI and CT scanning showed differences in paraspinal muscle volume and between patients with and healthy volunteers. This evaluation method may be useful for measuring the extent of paraspinal .

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