Fat beyond muscle: Assessing epimuscular fat of the lumbar spine and its association with vertebral level, demographics, BMI, and low back pain.

Abstract

Introduction: Epimuscular fat (EF) has rarely been studied in the context of low back pain (LBP).

Research question: This study aims to assess the presence and extent of EF in the lumbar muscles and its association with vertebral level in patients with low back disorders and to explore correlations between EF, demographics, BMI, and LBP.

Material and methods: T2 axial MRIs from L1 to L5 were manually segmented to analyze the cross-sectional area (CSA) of EF (mm²), and fat infiltration (FI,%) of 40 patients (23 females, 17 males; mean age:65.9 years) with lumbar degenerative pathologies awaiting a surgical procedure. COMI, LBP, demographic, and clinical data were extracted from the institutional registry. Statistical analyses included Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests for differences in EF between sides and sexes, the Friedman test for EF size differences among lumbar levels, and Spearman's correlation for associations, adjusted for BMI, age, and sex.

Results: EF was found in 77.5% of subjects at L1, 92.5% at L2, 100% at L3 and L4, and 95.0% at L5. EF was significantly larger at L4 (253.1 ± 183.6 mm²) and L5 (220.2 ± 194.9 mm²) than at L1 (36.1 ± 37.8 mm²) and L2 (72.2 ± 84.4 mm²). No significant EF differences were found between sides and sexes. EF correlated strongly with BMI (r_s = 0.65,p < 0.001) and moderately with FI (r_s = 0.31,p = 0.04), though its correlation with FI was not significant after adjustment. EF did not correlate with COMI scores but correlated with LBP in the adjusted analysis (r_s:0.31,p = 0.04).

Discussion and conclusion: EF is present across all lumbar levels, with higher concentrations at L4 and L5, and a significant correlation between EF and LBP intensity was observed. The present findings are limited to a specific subset of patients with lumbar degenerative disorders who are awaiting surgical procedures.