No Significant Change in MRI Abnormalities or Back Pain Prevalence in the Thoraco-Lumbar Spine of Young Elite Skiers Over a 2-Year Follow-Up

Wisam A Witwit,1– 3 Hanna Hebelka,1,4 Anna Swärd Aminoff,1 Josefin Abrahamson,1,2 Carl Todd,1 Adad Baranto1,2 1Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; 2Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; 3Department of Neuroradiology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; 4Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, SwedenCorrespondence: Wisam A Witwit, Institute of Clinical Sciences at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden, Email wisamwitwit@gmail.comBackground: Young athletes are at increasing risk for spinal column injuries due to overloading the spine with excessive sports activities, with potential development of complications later in life.Purpose: The purpose of this 2-year follow-up study of young elite skiers and non-athletes was to investigate any potential change in the thoraco-lumbar findings on MRI and to outline any change in back pain prevalence with continuing sporting activity and age.Study Design: Longitudinal cross-sectional study.Methods: MRI of the thoraco-lumbar spine was performed on 30 skiers (mean age 20 years, female 43%) and 16 non-athletes (mean age 19, female 75%), available for the 2-year follow-up. The intervertebral discs were evaluated for signal, height, bulge/herniation, and additionally according to Pfirrmann classification, and the endplates were graded according to endplate defect score. Any of the following disc findings was defined as disc degenerative change: reduced signal, reduced height, bulge, or herniation. All participants answered a specific back pain questionnaire.Results: No significant difference in spinal column abnormalities, nor back pain, was found between baseline and 2-year follow-up in neither skiers nor controls. There was significantly higher prevalence of disc degenerative changes in skiers (73%) than in non-athletes (44%, p=0.05). Skiers (63%) had significantly