Predisposing Factors that Contribute to Lumbar Disc Herniation and Degeneration; A Preliminary Study

Abstract

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.