Lumbar Spine Osteochondrosis: Novel Therapeutic Approaches Based on Modern Diagnostic Methods

Mamajanov B.S.

Authors

Mamajanov B.S. Associate Professor of the Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics of Military Field Surgery and Neurosurgery, Andijan State Medical Institute, Uzbekistan

Keywords:

Lumbar osteochondrosis, Diffusion tensor mapping (DTI), Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Endoscopic discectomy, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Vertebral discopathy

Abstract

Lumbar osteochondrosis is one of the leading causes of disability in the modern world, occurring in 60-80% of the population over the age of 30. The rapid chronicity of the disease and the diversity of approaches to incorrect diagnosis and treatment further increase the urgency of the problem. Purpose: The aim of this study is a prospective study of the clinical effectiveness of complex treatment protocols based on modern imaging diagnostics (MRI, CT, diffusion tensorial imaging - DTI) and clinical assessment scales (VAS, ODI) for lumbar osteochondrosis. Methods: The study included 187 patients (aged 18-65) who were observed at the Tashkent Medical Academy between 2021 and 2024. All patients were examined according to standardized MRI (3T), CT, and functional radiography protocols. Pain intensity was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS 0–10), while functional limitations were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). The treatment approach was divided into three groups: conservative (n=68), minimally invasive (n=72, including PRP therapy and epidural blockade), and endoscopic surgery (n=47). Results: over 6 months of observation, the VAS index in the minimally invasive group decreased from 7.4 ± 1.2 to 2.3 ± 0.9 (p<0.001). The ODI index decreased from 52.6% to 18.7%. In the endoscopic surgery group, full functional recovery was observed in 89.4% of cases. In the conservative group, good clinical results were characteristic of only 43.2% of patients.

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