Epidemiology of lumbar disc herniations in adults with low back pain in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation is used to describe a spectrum of anatomical abnormalities involving disc extension beyond the interspace. It follows a tear in the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc. It is one of the most common causes of low back pain among adults. The study aims to assess the epidemiological pattern of lumbar disc herniations among adults with low back pain in Enugu urban.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was a prospective study at National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu and Annunciation Specialist Hospital Enugu. Following ethical approval and written informed consent, patients who met the inclusion criteria were consecutively recruited. The MRI scans of the participants were viewed using DICOM® (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) software on laptop computer. The data included the patients’ demographics, functional disability index for back pain, weight, height, the anatomical level(s) and site(s) of the herniated disc among other parameters.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 81 subjects who met the inclusion criteria were included and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. The mean age of the subjects is 52.99±13.13 years. The most common affected age group is 51-60 years (27.2%). Majority of the subjects (68; 84%) had multiple level herniations which usually includes L4 level(74; 91.4%).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> That multilevel lumbar disc herniation is far more common than single level herniation with a prevalence of 84% among adults with low back pain in Enugu urban. That, there is statistically significant association of lumbar disc herniation and increasing age.</p>

The Risk Factors Affecting Disability Level of Lumbar Disc Herniation

“…This may be caused by various factors, one of which is the number/area of the affected segment. 5 In this study, it was found that most research subjects had an excessive or abnormal body mass index (overweight and obese), which was 77.5%.…”

“…21 In this study, no significant relationship was found between body mass index and the degree of disability in LDH patients as measured using the ODI score (p-value 0.757). 5 Harvard Medical School: Boston.…”

“…Less than 5% of all disc herniations occur in the upper lumbar vertebral segment found more in men. 5 This study aims to determine the risk factors that influence the degree of disability in lumbar nucleus…”