Attached
Chronic lower back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation and degeneration is
rated as one of the major disorder leading to disability in considerable percentage
not only in adultsbut also in young population throughout the world. The exact
cause for lumbar disc herniation and degeneration is not well known. Objective of
the present was to identify the role of different socio-demographic factors that could
predispose lumbar disc herniation in a selected Sri Lankan study sample. After
obtaining ethical approval eighty patients admitted for lumbar discectomy m a
selected hospital in Colombo were enrolled. They were confirmed for lumba. sc
herniation with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Standardized interviewer
administered questionnaire was used to gather data. Among the selected 80
participants there were forty one males (51 %) and thirty nine (49 %) females. Most
patients who had lumbar disc herniation were less than 50 years o f age (60 %)
Although it was traditionally believed that traumatic occupations and heav'
physical/mechanical loading are common predisposing factor for lumbar dis<
herniation and degeneration, according to the present study, majority o f participant
(62.5 %) did not engage in any such occupations or did not have a history c
trauma. Furthermore, present study indicates that a considerable percentage <
patients (45 %) who have engaged in strenuous sports activities had lumbar dii
herniation. In addition 15% o f individuals had history o f falls, while 15 % lifts
weights and 10 % percent had undergone repeated lumbar discectomy surger
However, 7.5 % of patients had involved in occupational heavy works,
conclusion, present study confirms that chronic low back pain related to lumbar di
herniation and degeneration is not only due to traditionally believed trauma
occupations or heavy physical/mechanical loading. The involvement o f higl
percentage of subjects in sports has to investigate further.
