Abstract
Purpose Retrospective radiological examination (X-ray and MRI) aims to investigate the diagnostic
value of various methods of measurement with regard to the determination of the intervertebral
disc heights of the lumbar spine.
Methods Of 130 patients without detectable damage to the intervertebral discs, the X-ray
and MRI images of the lumbar spine were evaluated. The measurements were made either
in the center line (Hurxthal) or in the 2-point method according to Dabbs or in the
3-point method according to Fyllos.
Results The average intervertebral disc height for all measured segments was 8.8 mm (SD 1.4 mm).
In the Hurxthal measurement, the significantly (p < 0.001) highest values were measured
with an average of 9.1 mm (SD 1.3 mm). The average readings for the Fyllos method
were 7.5 mm (SD 1.2 mm) and according to Dabbs 6.7 mm (SD 1.2 mm). The measured values
of Observer I were on average 1.2 mm (SD 0.3 mm) smaller than those of Observer II
(p < 0.001). The highest interobserver correlation was found in the measurements in
projection radiography in the AP method according to Dabbs and Fyllos. The measured
values in men were 0.5 mm (SD 0.01 mm) larger than in women (p < 0.001), regardless
of the method. The height of the intervertebral discs increases significantly until
the age of 40, but beyond the age of 40, the height of the intervertebral discs either
remains constant or falls off slightly, but not significantly. The lordosis angle
of the lumbar spine and the
concavity index of the vertebral bodies showed no correlation with the measured disc
heights.
Conclusions The radiological measurements to determine the intervertebral disc height have only
moderate reliability. The results of X-rays are superior to those of MRI examination.
The most accurate results are provided by measurements based on exact landmarks of
the vertebral bodies. The method according to Dabbs seems to be the most accurate
at the moment. There is no clear age-atypical chondrosis in patients without intervertebral
disc damage.
Keywords lumbar spine - X-ray - MRI - intervertertebral space