Demographic characteristics of 796 patients operated for lumbar disc herniation in Thrace region, Turkey

Abstract

Aim: This study was designed was to determine the demographic characteristics of patients operated for lumbar disc herniation in Thrace Region, Turkey. Material and Method: We retrospectively searched our data to find out patients who had one sided, one level and only one spinal surgical intervention for herniated lumbar disc. Results: Among 796 cases, 336 (42%) were men and 460 (58%) were women. The level of the pathology is determined as L1 - 2 for 4 cases (0.5%), L2 - 3 for 15 cases (1.9%), L3 - 4 for 51 cases (6.4%), L4 - 5 for 412 cases (51.8%) and as L5 - S1 on 314 cases (39.4%). While a total of 70 cases (8.9%) were identified on upper-levels (L1 – 2, L2 – 3, L3 – 4); 726 cases (91.1%) were found to be on lower-levels (L4 – 5, L5 - S1). A mild positive correlation between the pathology level and physical activity intensity (P < 0.05, P = 0.103) has been demonstrated; as well as a strong negative correlation between pathology level and mean age (P < 0.05, P = -0.404). Discussion: The demographic characteristics are consistent with the literature. Physical activity intensity influence on lower-level herniations might have significance due to the large sample size. The strong negative correlation between pathology level and mean age suggests that the degeneration raises the frequency of upper-level herniations.