European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society
-
Currently degeneration of the intervertebral disc and joint in the degenerative process of the lumbar spine has mainly attracted the attention, however, there are very few literatures focusing on the height of the spinous process. Our objective was to examine in what generation the change in spinous process height occurs and how the change is involved in the degenerative process of the lumbar spine. ⋯ Changes in the spinous process morphology followed degenerative changes of the intervertebral disc and vertebral body in the degenerative process of the lumbar spine. This result may suggest that the morphological change of an increase in the height of the spinous process may be a kind of biological defense reaction to stabilize the intervertebral portion.