“Degenerative endplate marrow fatty replacement” is the endpoint of vertebral endplate damage due to severe degenerative disc disease. When the disc becomes incompetent, it will not absorb shock. Impact then will load the bony endplate causing micro-fracture. This disorder (called IDR or isolated disc resorption) can cause edema in the vertebral body which is seen as Modic type one change (white bone on a T2 MRI). When this IDR is present for years, the remnants of the disc space can fibrose (scar) which then allows the vertebral body to heal. The vertebral body heals with fatty replacement (dark signal on T2) called “Degenerative endplate marrow fatty replacement”.
Dr. Corenman
PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.
Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
