title: The biomechanical significance of herniated lumbar intervertebral disk: a clinical comparison analysis of 22 multiple and 39 single segments in patients with lumbar intervertebral disk herniation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the clinical significance of herniated lumbar intervertebral nucleus pulposus (HNP) inside the spinal canal.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a comparison study between patients with multiple lumbar disk herniation and those with single lumbar disk herniation receiving conservative treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four indices, including computed tomography, plain and dynamic radiology and quantified physical examinations, were compared among 22 consecutive patients with multiple disk protrusions and 37 with single disk protrusion before and after a period of conservative treatment, mainly using spinal manipulation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no obvious changes of HNP size, position and volume, even after clinical improvement. However, structural and functional recovery in the group with multiple segments was less satisfactory than that of the group with single segment involvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protruded disk tissue plays an important role in the biomechanical disturbances of the spinal column besides that of an irritating agent to nerve root(s).
authors.affiliation: PLA Research Center of Traditional Chinese Manipulative Orthopedic, PLA Air Force General Hospital, 4th Surgery Dept., Beijing, P.R. China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002684:Chiropractic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed