[Clinical meaning of the surrounding compression on the nerve root by the protruded nucleus pulposus and facet or lamina (ligamentum flavum): analysis of CT (MRI) axial slice images of 71 patients with lumbar disc herniation].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the pinching action to the nerve root by the lumbar disc herniation and facet or lamina (ligamentum flavum) and evaluate its clinical meaning.


METHODS
Seventy-one patients were divided into 3 groups according to the size of distance between protrusion of nuclear and facet or lamina (ligamentum flavum). The degree of the straight leg raising of the affected side (SLR) and the sagittal index (SI) of lumbar disk herniation were measured and analyzed among them.


RESULTS
There was no corelation between the affected degree of SLR and sex, age and SI of patient (P > 0.05). The coefficient between distance group and the affected degree of SLR is-0.878 7 (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The degree of the surrounding compression by the protrusion of nuclear and facet or lamina (ligamentum flavum) reflects the injuried severity of the nerve root.
Feng
Wei
W
Department of Manipulative Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Airforce, Beijing 100036, China. fengweiairforce@hotmail.com
Feng
Tian-You
TY
Wang
Shu-Qin
SQ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D017843:Ligamentum Flavum / Q000473:pathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed