Plain Roentgenographic Findings on Lumbar Disc Herniation.

Chung, Hung Seob; Lee, Ki Chan; Lee, Hoon Kap; Kim, Heon Dae; Chu, Jeong Wha

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society 1981;10(2): 557-568.

Hung Seob Chung, Ki Chan Lee, Hoon Kap Lee, Heon Dae Kim, Jeong Wha Chu

Department of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.

ABSTRACT

X-ray films of the lumbosacral spine are necessary in the evaluation of all patients who are considered to have lumbar disc disease. Several positive X-ray film findings are of possible significance, and although not in themselves diagnostic, they are compatible with, lumbar disc disease. Among patients treated and diagnosed by surgical operation for lumbar disc nerniation from August, 1978 to February, 1981 at Korea University Hospital, 132 cases with their simple X-rays available for study were selected. Height of intervertebral disc space(Hurxthal method), spurrings, changes in facet joint, size of spinal canal(Johnes & Thomson method), lumbosacral angle(Ferguson method), congenital defect were studied and measured in simple films. Lumbar disc herniation was most frequent at L4-L5 intervertebral space(65.5%). The incidence of positive radiological findings were 85.6%. 1. Intervertebral disc space narrowing was found in 25%, 59.3% and 50% at L3-4, L4-5 and L5-S1 level respectively. 2. Peripheral osteophyte formations in the bodies of lumbar vertebrae were found in 44.7%. 3. Narrowing and/or sclerotic changes of facet joint were observed in 31.06%, subluxation in 14.39% and facet tropism in 5.3%. 4. The overall mean size of spinal canal at L4 vertebral level was 1:4.325 in male, 1:3.898 in female and at L5, 1:3.772 in female. Narrowed spinal canal in this series were found in 25.6%, at L4 and 17.2% at L5. 5. The overall mean lumbosacral angle was 32.4 degree in male and 31.5 degree in female. Spondylolysis was observed in 4.54%, spondylolisthesis in 3.03%, lumbarization in 8.3% and sacralization in 1.51%.