What Do Degenerative Changes Mean on a Scan?

What it means

Degenerative changes describe the gradual wear of joints, discs and bones over time. On a scan this may show as narrowing of the space between bones in a joint, small bony growths called bone spurs, or spinal discs that have dried out and become thinner.

Radiologists note these changes because they are part of the full picture of what the image shows, even when they are not the reason the scan was done. They are extremely common, especially from middle age onward, and are often seen in people with no pain at all. Words like "mild", "moderate" or "severe" describe how much change shows on the image, which does not always match how much pain or stiffness someone has.

Degenerative changes in a joint are closely linked to osteoarthritis, and in the spine the word spondylosis is often used. These are different from a fresh injury, such as a fracture, which the report would describe separately as an acute finding.

Where you may see it

• The 'Findings' and 'Impression' sections of spine X-ray and MRI reports
• Knee, hip, hand and shoulder X-ray reports
• Reports that list each spinal level, such as L4-L5 or C5-C6
• Orthopaedic and physiotherapy referral letters