Concept and Etiology: Herniated intervertebral disk is a spine
condition that the annulus fibrosus of the spinal disk is so damaged
that it causes nucleus pulposus of the disk herniate, causing pressure
on the nerves and/or spinal cord. The most common cause comes
with age, as humans age the nucleus pulposus becomes less hydrated
and weakens. The 2nd most cause is trauma (accidental movements,
falls, car accidents.) Another common cause is connective tissue
disorders, congenital disorders such as short pedicles (Ruben
Ngnitewe Massa & Mesfin, 2018). The common areas in the spinal
cord are lumbar and cervical.
Classification: There are 4 stages of Herniated intervertebral disk at
the Nucleus pulpiosus (Lachman, 2015).:
Disk bulging
Protruded nucleus pulposus (protrusion).
Herniated nucleus pulposus (extrusion).
prolapse of the nucleus pulposus.
Clinical Manifestations (Symptoms and Signs): Leg pain, Leg
weakness, arm and/or leg pain and numbness and tingling (Mayo
Clinic for Medical Education and Research, 2018).
Diagnostic Tests: The physician may perform a neurological exam.
The following imaging usual confirms diagnosis: MRI, CT
scan, Myelogram. Electromyography (EMG and nerve conduction
studies can detect the extent of nerve damage (Mayo Clinic for
Medical Education and Research, 2018).
References:
Lachman, D. (2015). Analysis of the clinical picture in patients with
osteoarthritis of the spine depending on the type and severity of
lesions on magnetic resonance
imaging. Reumatologia/Rheumatology, 53(4), 186–191.
https://doi.org/10.5114/reum.2015.53995
Mayo Clinic for Medical Education and Research. (2018). Herniated
disk - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/herniated-disk/sym
ptoms-causes/syc-20354095
Ruben Ngnitewe Massa, & Mesfin, F. B. (2018, October
27). Herniation, Disc. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441822/
