To explore the technical method of using single voxel MR spectroscopy (SMRS) imaging technology to quantitatively evaluate the degree of multifidus muscle degeneration in patients with degenerative spinal deformities, and explore the correlation between multifidus muscle degeneration and spinal sagittal imbalance.

31 patients with degenerative spinal deformity (DSD) (DSD group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group) were publicly recruited as research subjects. All subjects underwent SMRS sequence scanning and underwent full length anteroposterior and lateral X-rays of the spine. The magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed on bilateral multifidus muscles at the L4-5 intervertebral disc level, with observed indicators including fat fraction (FF), water fat ratio (W/F), fat peak (FP), and degree of asymmetry (DOA). Calculate the area under the above indicator curve using the ROC curve, and observe the characteristics of multifidus muscle degeneration and its correlation with sagittal balance in two groups of people.

The FF, FP, and DOA levels in the DSD group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), while the W F levels in the DSD group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curves of bilateral multifidus muscle FF, FP, DOA, and W F were 0.651, 0.349, 0.694, and 0.662, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the various degeneration indicators of bilateral multifidus muscle in the DSD group and the degree of spinal sagittal imbalance (P>0.05).

The SMRS sequence can be used to quantitatively evaluate the degree of multifidus muscle degeneration, and bilateral multifidus muscle DOA can be a sensitive indicator for evaluating the degree of paravertebral muscle degeneration in patients with degenerative spinal deformities; There is a lack of correlation between the degree of multifidus degeneration and the degree of spinal sagittal imbalance, and the former may be an independent influencing factor for degenerative spinal deformities.