Quantitative evaluation of gluteal and multifidus muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration in patients with lumbosacral nerve root compression

This study aims to investigate if MR technology can be applied to quantitatively evaluate the atrophy and fatty infiltration of gluteal and multifidus muscles in patients with lumbosacral nerve root compression. By quantitative evaluating 88 patients, we found the the change of multifidus muscle is related to the level of compressed nerve root and duration. As an indirect manifestation of nerve root compression, muscle change can help diagnosis in conventional lumbar MR images. Muscle content, especially that of multifidus is suggested to be a good indicator to complete the postoperative evaluation.