Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39010020›Full record

ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2024

Association of MRI findings with paraspinal muscles fat infiltration at lower lumbar levels in patients with chronic low back pain: a multicenter prospective study.

Heyi Gu, Jingrui Hong, Zhongwei Wang, Jiaxin Chen, Feng Yuan, Yuanming Jiang, Yingjuan Yang, Mingbin Luo, Zhenguang Zhang, Bo He and 2 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

16 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Paraspinal muscle quality in chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of muscle atrophy and fat infiltration.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
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  7. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of fatty infiltration in paraspinal muscles in spine-specific sarcopenia.Zhong nan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Central South University. Medical sciences · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Heyi GuDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Jingrui HongDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Zhongwei WangDepartment of Radiology, Baoshan People's Hospital, Baoshan, China.
Jiaxin ChenDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Feng YuanDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Yuanming JiangDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Yingjuan YangDepartment of Radiology, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital, Dali, China.
Mingbin LuoDepartment of Radiology, Honghe State First People's Hospital, Honghe, China.
Zhenguang ZhangDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China. 178546941@qq.com.
Bo HeDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China. kmmu_hb@163.com.
Yilong HuangDepartment of Medical Imaging, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China. kmhuangyilong@qq.com.
Li SunDepartment of Radiology, Honghe State First People's Hospital, Honghe, China. 584534683@qq.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIn chronic low back pain (CLBP), the relationship between spinal pathologies and paraspinal muscles fat infiltration remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between MRI findings and paraspinal muscles morphology and fat infiltration in CLBP patients by quantitative MRI.

methodsAll the CLBP patients were enrolled from July 2021 to December 2022 in four medical institutions. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and proton density fat fraction (PDFF) of the multifidus (MF) and erector spinae (ES) muscles at the central level of the L4/5 and L5/S1 intervertebral discs were measured. MRI findings included degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS), intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), facet arthrosis, disc bulge or herniation, and disease duration. The relationship between MRI findings and the paraspinal muscles PDFF and CSA in CLBP patients was analyzed.

resultsA total of 493 CLBP patients were included in the study (198 females, 295 males), with an average age of 45.68 ± 12.91 years. Our research indicates that the number of MRI findings are correlated with the paraspinal muscles PDFF at the L4/5 level, but is not significant. Moreover, the grading of IVDD is the primary factor influencing the paraspinal muscles PDFF at the L4-S1 level (B

conclusionThe degree of paraspinal muscles fat infiltration in CLBP patients is related to the cumulative or synergistic effects of multiple factors, especially at the L4/L5 level. Although age and BMI are important factors affecting the degree of paraspinal muscles PDFF in CLBP patients, their diagnostic efficacy is moderate.

Indexed as

Adipose TissueChronic PainLow Back PainLumbar VertebraeMagnetic Resonance ImagingParaspinal MusclesAdultFemaleHumansIntervertebral Disc DegenerationMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesChronic low back painFatty infiltrationMRI findingsParaspinal musclesQuantitative MRI

Identifiers

PMID39010020
PMCPMC11251387

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.