Abstract:

Objective To investigate the changes of waist muscle density and area in the subjects with spiral CT scan examination,and through the quantitative analysis of different age and gender to get the degree of lumbar muscle degeneration. Methods 240 cases of lumbar CT scan reconstruction images (including the patients suffering from low back pain)were collected.According to the age, 20-29 years old group,30-39 years old group,40-49 years old group, 50-59 years old group,60-69 years old group,and 70-79 years old group were set up. The lumbar transverse psoas muscle, lumbar side muscle, erector spinae cross-sectional areas(CSA) and mean CT values were measured at different levels. Scanning equipment: Toshiba Activion 16-slice spiral CT scanners, acquisition range from the waist 1 to S1. Results ①Compared between the measurement results of the same age groups(except 70-79 years old group),the average CSA of the male at the same level waist was higher than the female(P<0.05).②Compared between the same level groups of 20-29 years,30-39 years and 40-49 years,there were no significant differences(P>0.05). Compared between the same level groups of 50-59 years,60-69 years and 70-79 years,there was no significant difference(P>0.05). ③Compared the CSA of man's erector spinae muscle between 40-49 years group and 50-59 years group, there were significant differences(P<0.05). ④Compared the same level CSA of female between 20-29 years,30-39 years,40-49 years,50-59 years,60-69 years,70-79 years groups,and the adjacent groups,there were no significant differences(P>0.05). ⑤The same level average density of erector spinae muscle was lowest compared with the psoas major muscle and quadratus lumborum muscle, and falling faster, the psoas major muscle was relatively higher. The same level average density of female's erector spinae muscle was lower than man's,specially in 70-79 years group. Conclusion Multi-slice spiral CT can be used to diagnose the lumbar degenerative conditions.

Key words: low back pain, cross-sectional area, computerized tomography, degenerative lumbar spinal disease