Abstract Background: Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is often associated with Multifidus Muscle (MFM) dysfunction, which may affect the functional outcome of the patient negatively after disc surgery. Shear wave elastography (SWE) and high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) allow objective, non-invasive assessment of MFM elasticity and morphology. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the elasticity and cross sectional area (CSA) of MFM across varying severities of LDH using SWE and HRUS. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 150 patients with LDH. CSA of MFM at L4–L5 level was measured using both HRUS and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and its stiffness was quantified using SWE. MRI and HRUS/SWE were performed by two independent observers, blinded to each other’s findings as well as clinical and MRI findings. Results: A strong positive correlation was observed between CSA of MFM measured by HRUS and MRI ( r = 0.912, P < 0.001). A significant association was found between the type of disc herniation and tissue rigidity categories ( P = 0.001). Patients with diffuse disc bulge had the highest CSA and lowest stiffness, and vice versa in sequestration. Conclusion: SWE and HRUS provide consistent data in evaluating MFM elasticity in LDH patients and offer valuable insights into muscle function, thus helping to improve treatment planning and tailoring post-surgical rehabilitation.
Jain et al. (Thu,) studied this question.