Demographical Aspects of Schmorl Nodes

In Brief Study Design. A descriptive study of the association between Schmorl nodes (SNs) and gender, ethnic origin, and age in a normal skeletal population. Objectives. To gain reliable data on behavioral patterns of SNs in various human groups shedding light on its etiology. Summary of Background Data. Opinions regarding SNs prevalence in human populations vary greatly (from 5% to 70%). This caveat greatly reduced our ability to recognize the etiology of the phenomenon and understand its clinical significance. Methods. Two hundred forty human skeleton vertebrae (T4–L5) from a normal adult population (divided by gender, ethnicity, and age) were examined for SNs. SNs were defined as depressions with sclerotic margins appearing on the vertebral body surface. Results. One hundred sixteen individuals (48.3%) of the 240 studied manifested SNs along their thoracolumbar spine. SNs are age independent and gender and ethnicity dependent, are significantly more common in males (54.2%) versus females (43%) and more common in European-Americans (60.3%) versus African-Americans (36.7%). Conclusion. SNs are a common phenomenon in the normal adult populations with almost half of the individuals in our sample manifesting at least 1 vertebra with SN. Its demographic characteristics suggest that the phenomenon is not of occupational origin, promoting the notion of genetic background. Schmorl nodes are a common phenomenon in the normal adult population. Schmorl nodes are more common among males versus females and in European-Americans versus Africans-Americans, yet are independent of age. Its demographic characteristics suggest that Schmorl nodes probably develop during the maturation process of the spine.