Abnormalities in Plain X-Ray Findings of Lumbosacral Spine in Prolapsed Lumbar Intervertebral Disc

Abstract

This study was done prospectively over 50 admitted patients in the department of Neurosurgery, BSMMU from July'05 to June'06. Age range was 19-70 years, majority of them was male (76%), 24% was female, male: female was 3.17:1. Predominant occupation was manual labor (42%), sedentary workers 24%, housewives 26% and students 04%. Out 50 patients 72% had right convexity and 28% had left convexity of the lumbosacral spine. Regarding lumbar lordosis 72% had straightened, 24% had maintained and the remaining had reversed curve. Others X-ray findings were narrowing of interverteral disc spaces (76%), osteophytes (52%), narrowing of intervertebral foramina (46%), sacralization (10%), and listhesis(10%). Out of that 57% had right sided prolapse and 38% had left and 5% had central. The percentages of disc displace at one or two lowers grouped in the study as either a disc bulge is disc protrusion is 58%. Disc bulge is more common than protrusion in this study with a prevalence of 42% compared to rest and the prevalence increases progressively caudally with the greatest number at L5/S1 level. DOI: 10.3329/medtoday.v22i1.5597 Medicine Today Vol.22(1) 2010.6-11