PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF UPPER LUMBAR DISC HERNIATIONS IN OUR PRACTICE: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Introduction: Upper lumbar disc herniations (ULDH) are considered infrequent injuries (1-11%). They present, most often in older adults, with special clinical features that make diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making difficult. The prevalence, location, and management of these herniations and the medical history of our patients were analyzed. Methods: Sex, age, injury level, previous surgery, and patient treatment data from July 2018 to May 2021 were collected retrospectively. During this period, 179 patients underwent surgery, 33 of whom patients presented ULDH. Results: Thirty-three patients were included in the study (18 male and 15 female). Ages ranged from 39 to 85 years, with a predominance of elderly patients. The levels operated were L1-L2 in seven patients, L2-L3 in ten patients, L3-L4 in fourteen patients, and surgery in two levels (L2-L3, L3-L4) in two patients. In our practice, microdiscectomy is the preferred approach and was performed in all cases, with the addition of fusion in four of the 33 patients. Finally, a history of low lumbar disc herniation (LLDH) surgery was found in 16 patients. Conclusions: In our population, ULDHs are a rare entity with lower prevalence at the higher lumbar levels. They occur more frequently in elderly patients and clinical presentation can vary, which is a challenge for surgeons. In older adults, the development of lumbar kyphosis due to vertebral wedging is considered a risk factor for the development of ULDH. Surgical management by microdiscectomy is considered a technique with good results for this pathology.