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Modic changes in the adjacent vertebrae due to disc material infection with Propionibacterium acnes in patients with lumbar disc herniation

European Spine Journal volume 26, pages 3129–3134 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Modic changes (MCs) in vertebral bones are induced by two mechanisms of mechanical factors and infection. As Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) have been reported to be associated with LBP. The aim of this study is to evaluate the MCs in patients with disc herniation and positive for P. acnes.

Methods and material

A total of 120 patients with disc herniation surgery were enrolled into the study. The samples were excised during discectomy and then cultured in both anaerobic and aerobic incubations. Gram staining was employed for investigation of all colonies. The cultured P. acnes were detected by 16S rRNA-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR). MCs of baseline MRI were evaluated.

Results

In this study, 120 subjects (69 male and 51 female) with mean age of 43.15 ± 12.62 years were investigated. Sixty disc samples and eight muscle samples were positive for microorganisms. Moreover, 16S rDNA gene was identified in 46 (38.3%) disc samples. Moreover, 36/46 patients with P. acnes in their sample had MCs.

Conclusion

According to the results and presence of 36/46 MCs in patients with lumbar disc herniation, positive for P. acnes suggests that P. acnes can lead to edema on the vertebrae endplates near to infected area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Javad Aghazadeh, Firooz Salehpour, Ehsan Ziaeii, Farhad Mirzaei & Seyed Ahmad Naseri Alavi

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Naghme Javanshir & Javid sadeghi

  3. Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University of Medical Sciences, Ankara, Turkey

    Afshin Samadi

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  1. Javad Aghazadeh
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  2. Firooz Salehpour
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Correspondence to Farhad Mirzaei.

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Aghazadeh, J., Salehpour, F., Ziaeii, E. et al. Modic changes in the adjacent vertebrae due to disc material infection with Propionibacterium acnes in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Eur Spine J 26, 3129–3134 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4887-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4887-4

Keywords

  • Propionibacterium acnes
  • Lumbar disc herniation
  • Low-back pain
  • Modic changes