A Nomogram for Predicting the Residual Back Pain after Percutaneous Vertebroplasty for Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures

Figure 5

Goutallier grades 0 to 4 on T1W axial MRIs. (a) Grade 0, normal, almost no fat infiltration. (b) Grade 1, fatty streaks within the muscle. (c) Grade 2, fat infiltration was less than muscle mass. (d) Grade 3, fat infiltration was approximately equal to muscle mass. (e) Grade 4, fat infiltration was greater than muscle mass. Two experienced spine surgeons independently applied the Goutallier grades to the paraspinal muscle. Surgeons graded the paraspinal muscle for fat content at L4/5 levels on T1W MR axial images.