Investigation of intervertebral disc and facet joint in lumbar spondylolisthesis using T2 mapping.

PURPOSE: We measured T2 relaxation time of the intervertebral discs (IVD) and facet joints (FJ) in patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS) and no spondylolisthesis (NS) and investigated the characteristics of these parts in DS.

METHODS

In 40 patients with DS and 40 patients with NS, we measured T2 relaxation time of the IVD and FJ and compared them between groups. In the group with DS, we also examined the relationship between the degree of slippage using Meyerding grade and T2 relaxation of each part in the IVD and FJ.

RESULTS

T2 relaxation time of the IVD tended to be lower in the DS than NS group and differed significantly (P < 0.01) within the anterior annulus fibrosus. T2 relaxation time in the FJ was significantly higher in the DS than NS group. T2 relaxation time in the FJ was significantly higher for those assessed Meyerding Grade II than Grade I, although we observed no significant differences in T2 relaxation time in any area of the IVD.

CONCLUSION

T2 relaxation time decreased in the anterior annulus fibrosus of the IVD and increased in the FJ in patients with DS, suggesting an association of IVD and FJ degeneration with the development of lumbar DS.