Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
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Vertebral end-plate changes and paraspinal muscles are recently getting much more attention, since they could be associated with intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and low back pain (LBP). Even though obesity is known as a risk factor for LBP, the role of obesity in the process of LBP is still controversial. In this study, we aimed to identify whether increased body mass index (BMI) was associated with IVDD, vertebral end-plate changes and paraspinal muscle quality. ⋯ There was a higher trend of harboring Modic change at any lumbar level in obese patients, significantly in women (35.9% vs. 16.4%, p = 0.026). More severe fatty infiltration in the paraspinal muscles was seen at upper lumbar levels of the obese patients, particularly in women. Patients with higher BMI and suffering from LBP, had more fatty infiltration in the paraspinal muscles at the upper lumbar levels, more severe IVDD, and Modic changes at the lower lumbar levels; particularly women.