Spinal Health



Our imaging techniques have been used to assess spinal health and treatment in the study of Intervertebral Disc Repair and Spinal Fusion.

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (commonly referred to as Degenerative Disc Disease or DDD) is one of the most common forms of lower back pain and is generally related to changes in disc morphology or disc hydration in the lumbar and lumbosacral discs. We provide both standard structural measurements as well as compositional endpoints for assessment.

Structural Measurements:

  • Disc height
  • Disc volume
  • Degree of disc herniation
  • Presence of annular fissures

Compositional Endpoints:

  • T2 relaxation time (related to disc hydration)
  • Presence of intradiscal gas or calcium
  • Edema volume or fatty marrow deposits in the vertebral bodies - relative health of the surrounding vertebral bodies
  • Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC - related to hydration and health of disc)

Spinal Fusion:

VirtualScopics can evaluate all of the radiographic endpoints outlined in the FDA Guidance Document for the Preparation of IDEs for Spinal Systems (2000) including:

  • Evidence of bridging bone
  • Disc degeneration
  • Osteophyte formation
  • Disc height
  • Vertebral height
  • Radiolucent lines
  • Disc herniation
  • Facet joint changes
  • Stability (horizontal translation as well as angulation)

To provide a complete assessment of the disc and vertebral bodies we have combined many of the following scoring systems together, along with the presence or absence of certain features.

Scoring Systems we use:

  • Modic - degenerative changes to vertebral body bone plate and marrow adjacent to disc space
  • Pfirrmann - degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs
  • Grogan - facet arthrosis
  • Fujiwara - facet osteophytes
  • Grogan - facet sclerosis
  • Meyerding - degree of spondylolisthesis
  • Spondylolysis
  • Vertebral Osteophytes
  • Disc Collapse
  • Disc Extrusion
  • Non-contained Herniated Nucleus Pulposus
  • Intradiscal Gas or Calcium

To learn more, download our information sheet: Assessing the Spine using MRI, CT and X-Ray or contact us at +1 585.249.6231, or sales@virtualscopics.com

© VirtualScopics 2012