Schmorl's nodes are protrusions of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc through the vertebral body endplate and into the adjacent vertebra. The protrusions may contact the marrow of the vertebra, leading to inflammation. The protrusions are also associated with necrosis of the vertebral bone and the question of whether these protrusions and inflammation cause the necrosis, or whether the cartilage migrates into areas that have become necrotic due to other conditions, is under investigation. Schmorl's nodes can be detected radiographically, although they can be imaged better by CT or MRI. It is believed that Schmorl's nodes develop following back trauma, although this is incompletely understood. They may or may not be symptomatic, and their etiological significance for back pain is controversial. Schmorl's nodes are found in 40 - 75% of autopsies.

References

• McFadden KD, Taylor JR. 1989. End-plate lesions of the lumbar spine. Spine. 14(8):867-9. PMID 2781398.
• Peng B, Wu W, Hou S, Shang W, Wang X, Yang Y. 2003. The pathogenesis of Schmorl's nodes. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 85(6):879-82. PMID 12931811.
• Takahashi K, Miyazaki T, Ohnari H, Takino T, Tomita K. 1995. Schmorl's nodes and low-back pain. Analysis of magnetic resonance imaging findings in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Eur Spine J. 4(1):56-9. PMID 7749909.

Back anatomy | Orthopedics