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Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Acute disc herniation in the elderly.
British Journal of Neurosurgery 2012 April
BACKGROUND: Acute disc prolapse in young adults has been studied extensively. However, little is known about acute disc prolapse in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to define the features of acute disc prolapse in the elderly.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: Elderly (≥ 65 years) patients who had lumbar or thoracic discectomy for acute (< 3 months) disc prolapse in our unit between July 2004 and March 2010 were identified. For comparison, we used a 'young' (25-45 years) patient cohort with acute thoracic or lumbar disc prolapse. Data collected included age, symptom onset, preoperative signs and spinal level.
RESULTS: During the study period, 390 patients had discectomy, of which 59.7% were 'young' and 7.4% 'elderly'. The young and elderly patients had significantly different distributions of prolapsed disc levels. In the young, 97% of all disc protrusions were at L4/5 or L5/S1, but < 50% were at these levels in the elderly. In the elderly, about 10% of disc protrusions were thoracic.
CONCLUSIONS: Acute disc prolapse is rare in the elderly and primarily affects the upper lumbar and lower thoracic spine.
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to define the features of acute disc prolapse in the elderly.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PATIENTS: Elderly (≥ 65 years) patients who had lumbar or thoracic discectomy for acute (< 3 months) disc prolapse in our unit between July 2004 and March 2010 were identified. For comparison, we used a 'young' (25-45 years) patient cohort with acute thoracic or lumbar disc prolapse. Data collected included age, symptom onset, preoperative signs and spinal level.
RESULTS: During the study period, 390 patients had discectomy, of which 59.7% were 'young' and 7.4% 'elderly'. The young and elderly patients had significantly different distributions of prolapsed disc levels. In the young, 97% of all disc protrusions were at L4/5 or L5/S1, but < 50% were at these levels in the elderly. In the elderly, about 10% of disc protrusions were thoracic.
CONCLUSIONS: Acute disc prolapse is rare in the elderly and primarily affects the upper lumbar and lower thoracic spine.
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