Herniated Lumbar Disc: Excerpt from the New AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation, Second Edition

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-5

Abstract This article presents the current science regarding the causation for herniated lumbar discs, taken from the second edition of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation. Sciatica is a relatively common disorder; point prevalence population estimates range from 2% to 5%. People with sciatica may or may not have lumbar disc herniations (lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus). Sciatica is described by a variety of terms, including radiculopathy, lumbosacral radicular syndrome, and nerve root irritation. Different definitions of sciatica have been used in epidemiologic surveys, and studies concerning sciatic pain or sciatica generally have used self-reported risk factors in a cross-sectional design—these studies have drawn contradictory conclusions regarding the risk factors associated with lumber radiculopathy. Insufficient scientific evidence exists to justify attributing the cause of lumbar disc herniation to any minor trauma event or ergonomic risk factor; supposed “post hoc ergo propter hoc” (after this, therefore because of this) associations show only association, not causation. The article includes several tables, including risk factors for lumbar disc herniation, risk factors for sciatica, and a summary of evidence for low back pain.

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Shepard ◽  
Woojin Cho

Study Design: Narrative review. Objectives: To identify the risk factors and surgical management for recurrent lumbar disc herniation using a systematic review of available evidence. Methods: We conducted a review of PubMed, MEDLINE, OVID, and Cochrane Library databases using search terms identifying recurrent lumbar disc herniation and risk factors or surgical management. Abstracts of all identified articles were reviewed. Detailed information from articles with levels I to IV evidence was extracted and synthesized. Results: There is intermediate levels III to IV evidence detailing perioperative risk factors and the optimal surgical technique for recurrent lumbar disc herniations. Conclusions: Multiple risk factors including smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, intraoperative technique, and biomechanical factors may contribute to the development of recurrent disc disease. There is widespread variation regarding optimal surgical management for recurrent herniation, which often include revision discectomies with or without fusion via open and minimally invasive techniques.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 258-261
Author(s):  
LUAN CELSO GONÇALVES ◽  
ALBERTO OFENHEJM GOTFRYD ◽  
MARIA FERNANDA SILBER CAFFARO ◽  
NELSON ASTUR ◽  
RODRIGO GOES MEDÉA DE MENDONÇA ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the intra- and interobserver reliability of the Lee et al. classification for migrated lumbar disc herniations. Methods In 2018, Ahn Y. et al. demonstrated the accuracy of this classification for radiologists. However, magnetic resonance images are often interpreted by orthopedists. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted by evaluating the magnetic resonance images of 82 patients diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation. The images were evaluated by 4 physicians, 3 of whom were spinal orthopedic specialists and 1 of whom was a radiologist. The intra- and interobserver analysis was conducted using the percentage of concordance and the Kappa method. Results The report of the classifications used by the four observers had a higher proportion of “zone 3” and “zone 4” type classifications in both evaluation moments. The most affected anatomical levels were L5-S1 (48.2%) and L4-L5 (41.4%). The intra- and interobserver concordance, when comparing both moments evaluation of the complementary examinations of the participants involved, was classified as moderate and very good. Conclusions Lee’s classification presented moderate to very good intra- and interobserver reliability for the evaluation of migrated lumbar disc herniation. Level of evidence II; Retrospective Study.


2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 963-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun-Ho Shin ◽  
Kyu-Jung Cho ◽  
Young-Tae Kim ◽  
Myung-Hoon Park

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 030006052110393
Author(s):  
Keunjae Lee ◽  
Eun-San Kim ◽  
Boyoung Jung ◽  
Sang-Won Park ◽  
In-Hyuk Ha

Objective To determine whether pain is associated with gait instability in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study used data from electronic medical records. Among patients with lumbar back pain caused by LDH between January 2017 and July 2019, patients that underwent gait analysis were included. LDH was diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging. An OptoGait photoelectric cell system was used for gait evaluation. Instability was measured using a gait symmetry index. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to determine the association between lumbar pain and gait instability. Results A total of 29 patients (12 females [41.4%] and 17 males [58.6%]; mean ± SD age, 40.6 ± 12.0 years) with LDH were enrolled in the study. With each 1-point increase in lumbar pain on the numeric rating scale, the symmetry index of the stance phase (0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04, 0.62), swing phase (0.78; 95% CI 0.14, 1.43) and single support (0.79; 95% CI 0.15, 1.43) increased. Conclusions Gait instability in patients with LDH may occur due to an increase in pain.


2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Sik Bae ◽  
Kyung Hee Kang ◽  
Jeong Hyun Park ◽  
Jae Hyeon Lim ◽  
Il Tae Jang

2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 87-94
Author(s):  
Qi Lai ◽  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Runsheng Guo ◽  
Xin Lv ◽  
Qiang Wang ◽  
...  

Purpose: To investigate the association of facet joint asymmetry with lumbar disc herniation at the lower lumbar spine. Methods: A total of 90 patients (ages 18–40 years) with single-level disc herniation (L3–L4, L4–L5, or L5–S1) were included in the study. Facet asymmetry was defined as a difference of 10° in facet joint angles between right and left sides. Normal discs in the same segment of other individuals were used as a control. Patients had facet asymmetry measured for L3 to S1 through 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging, and information was collected, including age, sex, degenerative degree of lumbar facet joints, and the presence or absence of lumbar disc herniation and type. Results: At the L3 to L4 level, 2 cases had facet asymmetry in 8 patients with lumbar disc herniation, compared with 17 cases of facet asymmetry in 82 patients without disc herniation (P = 0.7776, r = 0.030). At the L4 to L5 level, there were 21 cases of facet asymmetry in 45 patients with lumbar disc herniation, compared with 5 cases of asymmetry in 45 patients without disc herniation (P = 0.00019, r = 0.392). At the L5 to S1 level, there were 25 cases of facet asymmetry in 37 patients with lumbar disc herniation, compared with 11 cases of facet asymmetry in 53 patients without disc herniation (P = 0.0000, r = 0.492). There were 23 cases of facet asymmetry in 28 disc herniations of side type compared with 2 cases of facet asymmetry in 9 herniations of center type (P = 0.0008, r = 0.364). There was no significant difference in the relationship between age, facet joint degeneration, and lumbar facet joint asymmetry (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Facet asymmetry is significantly associated with lumbar disc herniation at the L4 to L5 and the L5 to S1 levels, whereas there is an obvious association with the side type of lumbar disc herniation at the L5 to S1 level.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jess Rollason ◽  
Andrew McDowell ◽  
Hanne B. Albert ◽  
Emma Barnard ◽  
Tony Worthington ◽  
...  

The anaerobic skin commensalPropionibacterium acnesis an underestimated cause of human infections and clinical conditions. Previous studies have suggested a role for the bacterium in lumbar disc herniation and infection. To further investigate this, five biopsy samples were surgically excised from each of 64 patients with lumbar disc herniation.P. acnesand other bacteria were detected by anaerobic culture, followed by biochemical and PCR-based identification. In total, 24/64 (38%) patients had evidence ofP. acnesin their excised herniated disc tissue. UsingrecAand mAb typing methods, 52% of the isolates were type II (50% of culture-positive patients), while type IA strains accounted for 28% of isolates (42% patients). Type III (11% isolates; 21% patients) and type IB strains (9% isolates; 17% patients) were detected less frequently. The MIC values for all isolates were lowest for amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, rifampicin, tetracycline, and vancomycin (≤1mg/L). The MIC for fusidic acid was 1-2 mg/L. The MIC for trimethoprim and gentamicin was 2 to ≥4 mg/L. The demonstration that type II and III strains, which are not frequently recovered from skin, predominated within our isolate collection (63%) suggests that the role ofP. acnesin lumbar disc herniation should not be readily dismissed.


1995 ◽  
Vol 133 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 7-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kotilainen ◽  
A. Alanen ◽  
R. Parkkola ◽  
H. Helenius ◽  
S. Valtonen ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 592-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shota Takenaka ◽  
Kosuke Tateishi ◽  
Noboru Hosono ◽  
Yoshihiro Mukai ◽  
Takeshi Fuji

OBJECT In this study, the authors aimed to identify specific risk factors for postdecompression lumbar disc herniation (PDLDH) in patients who have not undergone discectomy and/or fusion. METHODS Between 2007 and 2012, 493 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis underwent bilateral partial laminectomy without discectomy and/or fusion in a single hospital. Eighteen patients (herniation group [H group]: 15 men, 3 women; mean age 65.1 years) developed acute sciatica as a result of PDLDH within 2 years after surgery. Ninety patients who did not develop postoperative acute sciatica were selected as a control group (C group: 75 men, 15 women; mean age 65.4 years). Patients in the C group were age and sex matched with those in the H group. The patients in the groups were also matched for decompression level, number of decompression levels, and surgery date. The radiographic variables measured included percentage of slippage, intervertebral angle, range of motion, lumbar lordosis, disc height, facet angle, extent of facet removal, facet degeneration, disc degeneration, and vertebral endplate degeneration. The threshold for PDLDH risk factors was evaluated using a continuous numerical variable and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The area under the curve was used to determine the diagnostic performance, and values greater than 0.75 were considered to represent good performance. RESULTS Multivariate analysis revealed that preoperative retrolisthesis during extension was the sole significant independent risk factor for PDLDH. The area under the curve for preoperative retrolisthesis during extension was 0.849; the cutoff value was estimated to be a retrolisthesis of 7.2% during extension. CONCLUSIONS The authors observed that bilateral partial laminectomy, performed along with the removal of the posterior support ligament, may not be suitable for lumbar spinal stenosis patients with preoperative retrolisthesis greater than 7.2% during extension.


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