BACKGROUND: We explored the possible relationship between Modic changes (MCs) and sagittal parameters of the cervical spine.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 150 patients with cervical MC on the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in the MC (+) group and divided them into 3 sub-groups with 50 patients each: the MC1 sub-group, the MC2 sub-group, and the MC3 sub-group. Another 150 healthy subjects receiving routine health examinations were also enrolled in the study as the MC (–) group. The sagittal parameters in the cervical spine were measured and compared and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk factor for the occurrence of MC.

RESULTS: Four cervical sagittal parameters were measured and compared between all the enrolled groups, including neck tilt (NT), T1 slope (T1s), thoracic inlet angle (TIA), and Cobb C2–C7. The results confirmed that the parameter of Cobb C2–C7 was much smaller in the MC(+) group when compared with that in the MC(–) group (P<0.05), while no significant differences were detected between the MC(+) and MC(–) groups for the parameters of NT, T1 T1s, and TIA (P>0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that Cobb C2–C7 (less than 8.5°) could be regarded as the risk factor for the occurrence of MC, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that moderate diagnostic significance was obtained with an area under curve (AUC) of 0.82.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that Cobb C2–C7 (less than 8.5°) is a potential risk factor for the development of MC.

Keywords: Logistic Models, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Osteoarthritis, Spine