A Strong Association Between Modic Changes Type 2 and Endplate Defects at Nonfused Segments After Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion.

Background: To determine the association between Modic changes (MCs) with other magnetic resonance imaging parameters and clinical symptoms of cervical degenerative disc disease.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data on patients with cervical degenerative disc disease who underwent single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Preoperative demographic data (age, sex, surgical data) were collected, cervical magnetic resonance imaging parameters (disc degeneration grade, MCs, and endplate defects, each determined at each cervical level), and clinical data (numerical pain rating scale [NPRS] neck and arm, the Neck Disability Index) were compared to preoperative data.

Results: The study included 121 patients at Visit 1 and 83 patients at Visit 2. The median follow-up duration was 26.5 [18.9; 33.1] months. Patients with MC had more intense NPRS-based neck pain before surgery compared to patients without MC (P = 0.001). There were significant changes in MC rate at the C5-C6 levels due to a significant number of new MC type 1 and MC type 2 (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). MC type 2 was associated with disc degeneration, endplate defects, patients' age, and clinical scales (Neck Disability Index, NPRS) (P < 0.05). The endplate defects score threshold for predicting MC type 2 at the C3-C7 cervical levels was 5.

Conclusions: The factor predicting MC type 2 at the C3-C7 cervical levels is submaximal damage to the endplate. The MC rate is increased due to MC type 1 and MC type 2. MC types at the cervical levels may not represent consecutive stages of the same process.