BACKGROUND: This study explored relationship between Modic change and spinopelvic parameters in the sagittal plane.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We divided 80 patients into 4 groups: 60 subjects diagnosed with Modic changes (MC) were enrolled in the MC groups (MC1, MC2, and MC3) with each MC type consisting of 20 subjects, and 60 healthy subjects were enrolled in the control group. Spinopelvic parameters in the sagittal plane were calculated to assess their associations with MC. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore possible risk factors for MC.

RESULTS: PI and LL in the MC groups were significant smaller than in the control group (p<0.05). PI, SS, and PT were significantly correlated with LL with a correlation coefficient of 0.75PI, 0.71SS and 0.69PT (p<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression of the significant variables showed that PI (less than 43.2°) is an independent significant risk factor for MC. ROC analysis showed that moderate diagnostic value was obtained for the significant variable, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that PI is risk factor for MC, and smaller PI is associated with higher incidence of MC.

Keywords: Logistic Models, Lumbar Vertebrae, Spine, Lordosis, Multivariate Analysis, Pelvis, ROC Curve, Risk Factors