| Title: |
The Clinical Significance of the Modic Changes Grading Score |
| Authors: |
Udby, Peter M.; Modic, Michael; Elmose, Signe; Carreon, Leah Y.; Andersen, Mikkel; Karppinen, Jaro; Samartzis, Dino |
| Contributors: |
Wellbeing services county of South Karelia |
| Publisher Information: |
SAGE Publications Inc. |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
Helsingfors Universitet: HELDA – Helsingin yliopiston digitaalinen arkisto |
| Subject Terms: |
degeneration; disc; endplate; low back pain; magnetic resonance imaging; modic changes; Neurology and psychiatry; Surgery; anesthesiology; intensive care; radiology |
| Description: |
Study design: Cross-sectional retrospective observational study. Objective: To evaluate the reliability and clinical utility of the Modic changes (MC) grading score. Method: Patients from the Danish national spine registry, DaneSpine, scheduled for lumbar discectomy were identified. MRI of patients with MC were graded based on vertical height involvement: Grade A (50%). All MRIs were reviewed by 2 physicians to evaluate the reliability of the MC grade. Results: Of 213 patients included, 142 patients had MC, 71 with MC-1 and 71 with MC-2; 34% were Grade A, 45% were Grade B, and 21% were Grade C. MC grade demonstrated substantial intra-rater (κ =.68) and inter-rater (κ =.61) reliability. A significantly higher proportion (n = 40, 57%) of patients with MC-1 had a severe MC grade compared to patients with MC-2 (n = 30, 43%, P .05). Conclusion: The MC grade score was demonstrated to have substantial intra- and inter-observer reliability. Severe MC grade was associated with both severe DD and MC type, being more prevalent in patients with MC-1. The MC grade was also significantly associated with worse disability and reduced health-related quality of life. Results from the study suggest that MC grade is more clinically important than MC type. ; Peer reviewed |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
application/pdf |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
https://hdl.handle.net/10138/628200; 85136654655 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/10138/628200 |
| Rights: |
cc_by_nc_nd ; info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; openAccess |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.41E151 |
| Database: |
BASE |