Caracterización clínica de pacientes con trastornos de los discos intervertebrales

Introduction: Intervertebral disc disorders (IDDs) are being commonly observed nowadays among the young and middle aged population. Objectives: This hospital record based study was done to study the risk factors, clinical presentation, imaging findings and management practices among patients with all types of IDDs. Methods: A validated proforma was used to obtain information of patients confirmed with IDDs over the past three years. Results: Mean age at onset of disc disorders among the 219 patients was 44.7±14.2 years. History of poor exercising habits were present among 72(32.9%) patients. The most common site of disc involvement was L4-L5 [151(68.9%)]. 143(65.3%) patients had single site disc involvement. The most common clinical symptom was lower back pain [180(82.2%)]. Nerve root compression was present among 154(70.3%) patients. Disc bulge, protrusion, extrusion and sequestration were present among 116(53%), 90(41.1%), 52(23.7%) and 4(1.8%) patients respectively. Age at onset >65 years (p=0.035), age at onset ≤55 years (p=0.004) and history of direct impact to the neck region (p=0.017) were associated with disc prolapse at L2-L3 level, L4-L5 level and C5-C6 level respectively, among patients with single site disc involvement. Risk of multiple level disc involvement was found to increase after 35 years (p<0.001). It was seen more involving cervical vertebrae (p=0.0068). Lumbar (p<0.0001) and lumbosacral vertebrae (p<0.0001) involvement were seenmore among patients with single site disc involvement. NSAIDs [155(70.8%)] were the most the commonly used medication. Microdiscectomy was done among 35(76.1%) out of the 46 patients who underwent surgical management. Conclusions: Exercising habits need to be encouraged among people for the prevention of IDDs. The various high risk groups identified in this study need to be periodically screened for IDDs.