NBCE Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

The presence of end plate sclerosis, vacuum phenomenon, and markedly decreased disc height is most closely associated with degenerative disc disease. This condition indicates a degeneration of the intervertebral discs, leading to structural changes in the spine.

End plate sclerosis refers to the hardening and thickening of the vertebral end plates, often observed in cases where the disc has started to degenerate. The vacuum phenomenon is the formation of gas within the disc space, which can occur due to the breakdown of the disc's structural integrity. Markedly decreased disc height indicates the loss of disc material and overall disc health, a hallmark of degenerative changes.

While intervertebral osteoarthritis does involve changes at the vertebrae and can cause some related symptoms, the specific combination of end plate sclerosis, vacuum phenomenon, and decreased disc height is more characteristic of degenerative disc disease. Herniated discs typically present with different imaging findings, often showing displacement of disc material rather than these degenerative changes. Spinal stenosis, while it can occur in conjunction with degenerative changes, is primarily characterized by a narrowing of the spinal canal or neuroforamina and does not predominantly feature the specific elements mentioned in the question.