What is an endplate in the spine?

What is an endplate in the spine?

A vertebral end plate is the transition region where a vertebral body and intervertebral disc interface with each other. A vertebral end plate is commonly described as consisting of 2 layers: Cartilaginous layer (also called cartilaginous endplate) that fuses with the disc.

What causes vertebral sclerosis?

Narrowing of the intervertebral disc space with sclerosis of the adjacent vertebral bodies may occur as a consequence of infection, neoplasia, trauma, or rheumatic disease. Some patients have been described with backache and these radiological appearances without any primary cause being apparent.

What is sclerosis of vertebral body?

A VARIETY of disorders can produce increased radiodensity, or sclerosis, of one or more vertebral bodies. Such sclerosis can involve (1) the entire vertebral body in a uniform fashion, (2) the superior or inferior surface, or both, (3) the vertebral margins, or (4) the interior of the bone.

What are endplate degenerative changes?

Background. Vertebral endplate (Modic) changes are bone marrow and endplate lesions visible in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They are shown to be associated with degenerative intervertebral disc disease [1–3].

What are endplate irregularities?

Endplate Irregularity Observations The most common irregularities noted were rim degeneration (50 %) and avulsions (35%). Nodes were less common (15%) and found mostly in the thoracic spine, where the avulsions and rim degenerations were found in the lumbar spine samples.

Hear this out loudPauseA vertebral end plate is the transition region where a vertebral body and intervertebral disc interface with each other. A vertebral end plate is commonly described as consisting of 2 layers: Cartilaginous layer (also called cartilaginous endplate) that fuses with the disc.

Hear this out loudPauseNarrowing of the intervertebral disc space with sclerosis of the adjacent vertebral bodies may occur as a consequence of infection, neoplasia, trauma, or rheumatic disease. Some patients have been described with backache and these radiological appearances without any primary cause being apparent.

How is vacuum disc phenomenon treated?

Hear this out loudPauseSurgical therapy is still an acceptable method for the treatment of vacuum disc phenomenon and accumulation of gas within the spinal canal.

Hear this out loudPauseVertebral endplate (Modic) changes are bone marrow and endplate lesions visible in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They are shown to be associated with degenerative intervertebral disc disease [1–3]. Type I lesions (low T1 and high T2 signals) are assumed to indicate an ongoing active degenerative process.

Does end plate sclerosis cause pain?

Hear this out loudPauseThe current basic and clinical research into discogenic pain mainly focuses on discogenic low back pain caused by annulus fibrosus injuries [21, 22], and rarely involves low back pain caused by endplate injuries. In fact, low back pain caused by endplate injuries is quite common in clinical research.

Is end plate sclerosis serious?

Hear this out loudPauseAssociated Conditions Studies have found evidence that such lesions on endplates in the lumbar region of the back are associated with low back pain. 3 In its advanced stages, endplate degeneration is called endplate sclerosis. Endplate damage can be difficult to detect, even with diagnostic imaging.

What happens to the endplate in endplate sclerosis?

Endplate sclerosis occurs when the intervertebral disc is enlarged, and the bony endplate is compressed and is continuously absorbed. New transverse bone beams are constantly produced in the vertebral body.

When does osteoarthritis lead to endplate sclerosis?

New transverse bone beams are constantly produced in the vertebral body. When the disc begins to lose fluid, disc degeneration occurs. Disc degeneration often leads to osteoarthritis and endplate sclerosis. Endplate sclerosis commonly occurs in the early stages of osteoarthritis. The extent of endplate sclerosis increases with age.

Where are endplates located in the vertebral system?

Endplates are structures present on the top and bottom of each vertebra (except the sacral vertebrae), and are in direct contact with the intervertebral disc. The sclerosis of these endplates is associated with decreased blood supply to these structures.

What is vacumn and endplate sclerosis and vacuum phenomenon?

Disc degeneration disease and arthritis. Sclerosis is a hardening of the bone that is common in arthritis. Vacumn phenomena refers to the accumulation of gas in the disc space also found in this situation.

What is degenerative end plate sclerosis?

Another common condition that involves sclerosis of the spine is endplate sclerosis that occurs in degenerative disc disease which is the result of wear and tear of the vertebral bones. Endplates are structures present on the top and bottom of each vertebra (except the sacral vertebrae), and are in direct contact with the intervertebral disc.

What is mild degenerative changes of the thoracic spine?

The phrase “degenerative changes” in the spine refers to osteoarthritis of the spine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. Doctors may also refer to it as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease. Osteoarthritis in the spine most commonly occurs in the neck and lower back.

What is mild degenerative changes?

Mild degenerative Levocurvature means “left” curve in the spine; as opposed to dextrocurvature meaning “right”. Mild degenerative changes of the lumbar spine will usually be in reference to disk space narrowing, but can also include the presence of osteophytes around the vertebral bodies or at the facet joints or hypertrophy of the facets.

What are degenerative endplate changes?

Vertebral endplate degenerative changes are significantly associated with back pain, with type 1 changes showing the strongest association. , Most patients with Modic changes also have concurrent evidence of disc degeneration. Modic changes are rare in asymptomatic patients.