Abstract
Introduction: The effect of facet tropism on the development of lumbar disc diseases has been investigated but is still controversy; moreover, there has been no study to be done on far lateral lumbar disc herniation (LDH). In the current study, the authors attempted to determine the differences of the degree of facet tropism and the degree of disc degeneration between far lateral and posterolateral LDHs. In addition, the effect of the difference of degree of facet tropism and the degree of disc degeneration on the development of far lateral LDH was investigated compared with posterolateral LDH.
Methods: 38 LDHs (far lateral, n = 19; posterolateral, n = 19) who underwent posterior open discectomy or paraspinal approach were included in this study. The mean age was 52.3 years in far lateral LDH and 45.3 years in posterolateral LDH. The degrees of facet tropism and disc degeneration were measured at herniated disc level using MRI, and compared for the two different types of LDHs. Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman test were used for analysis.
Results: There were significant statistical differences in the degree of facet tropism and the degree of disc degeneration. There was no significant correlation between the degree of facet tropism and the degree of disc degeneration in far lateral LDH.
Discussion: The current study suggests that the differences of the degree of facet tropism and the degree of disc degeneration might be considered as the key factors to determine the development of far lateral LDH compared with posterolateral LDH.
The abstracts were prepared by Professor Jegan Krishnan. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park 5047, Australia.
