Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlations of multifidus atrophy extert with lumbar spondylolisthesis extert and Oswestry Disability Index （ODI） in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis patients. Methods A total of 62 patients with lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis were retrospectively analyzed in Shanghai General Hospital from February 2017 to December 2019. Each patient underwent lumbar X-ray and lumbar MRI examinations. Image Pro Plus software was used to calculate the ratio of fat-free multifidus muscle cross sectional area to total multifidus muscle cross sectional area in slipped segments and non-slipped segments, and a smaller ratio indicated more severe atrophy. Results The ratio of fat-free multifidus muscle cross sectional area to total multifidus muscle cross sectional area in degenerative segments was 5.5% higher than the value in non-degenerative segments of the degenerative lumber spondylolisthesis patients （t=2.826, P=0.008）. The ratio in Ⅱ degree spondylolisthesis segments was 6.8% higher than that in Ⅰ degree spondylolisthesis segments （t=2.236, P=0.027）. The mean ODI of the selected participants was （42.7±3.6）%. The degree of multifidus atrophy was positively correlated with the ODI value. Conclusion Degenerative multifidus muscle may be involved in the development of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis. The degree of multifidus atrophy is correlated with the degree of spondylolisthesis and lumber dysfunction.

Key words: Degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis, Multifidus muscle, Atrophy, Dysfunction