Lumbar disc herniation in children and elderly patients

Introduction: Lumbar disc herniation is a common pathology of young and middle-aged patients. Fissures and tears in the annulus fibrosus become weak points that facilitate herniation of the nucleus pulposus, especially when extreme forces ‘attack’ the intervertebral disc. A significant biomechanical force applied to a healthy (‘normal’) disc can have the same effect. Disc protrusions and herniations to varying degrees penetrate the spinal canal. Aim: This study aims to present features of lumbar disc herniation in pediatric and elderly patients and evaluate them with respect to data reported in the literature. Materials and methods: Five hundred eighty-nine patients were assessed, 64 of whom were children (0-18 years), and 98 were elderly patients (>60 years). The operated patients were followed up for at least three years. All data were recorded at the regular follow-ups (at 1 and 3 months, and at 1 and 3 years after surgery). We used chi-square tests and directional measures to determine statistically significant data. Operative treatment in children and elderly patients was 28% (162) of our cohort’s total number of patients. Results: Analyzing postoperative MacNaB, our result showed that children have 23.4% excellent and 76.6 good self-assessment, while in elderly patients, on the one hand, MacNaB used to be excellent or good in 78.5%, and on the other hand, 21.5% had fair or poor self-assessment (p