Abstract ▼ AI-Helper

Degeneration and herniation of intervertebral disc of adolescent lumbar spine has been known to be relatively uncommon. However with the changing life style and increasing sports activities, and most of all, with the advent of new imaging modalities, the incidence seems to be increasing gradually. R...

Degeneration and herniation of intervertebral disc of adolescent lumbar spine has been known to be relatively uncommon. However with the changing life style and increasing sports activities, and most of all, with the advent of new imaging modalities, the incidence seems to be increasing gradually. Recently MRI is widely used for diagnosis of lumbar disc disease. This study is purposed to evaluate MRI findings of herniation and degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc in adolescent and to clarify the relationship between degeneration and incidence of herniation. The symptom and course of treatment is also evaluated by medical records and telephone interview. From June 1999 to May 2003, 147 patients aged 10 to 18 were evaluated their MRI findings of lumbar spine. The following results were obtained. HNP was in 129 patients and sexual distribution was 110:19(M:F). 135 patients showed disc degeneration. All patients diagnosed HNP presented back pain and 114(88.4%) patient had radiating leg pain. 121(93.8%) patients of HNP showed positive SLR and muscle weakness was in 61(47.3%) patients. Sensory change was developed in 48(37.2%) patients. L4-5 spine was most common site of disc herniation(48.1%) and degeneration(41.2%). In type of herniation, protrusion was most common and no sequestered disc was found. According to Thompson's classification, grade 3 was most common in 43% of segments. 115 patients of HNP had a conservative treatment and 14 had operative treatment. Most of patients showed excellent and good results in Nayler criteria. It was seemed that degeneration of disc is not rare in adolescent lumbar spine and important cause of herniation of disc.

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