Disc herniation

Changed by Craig Hacking, 12 Feb 2019

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

Disc herniation refers to the displacement of intervertebral disc material beyond the normal confines of the disc but involving less than 25% of the circumference (to distinguish it from a disc bulge). A herniation may contain nucleus pulposus, vertebral endplate cartilage, apophyseal bone/osteophyte/osteophyte and annulus fibrosus

Disc herniations can be divided into groups in a variety of ways. Commonly they are divided into protrusion vs extrusion: 

  • protrusion
    • base wider than herniation
    • confined to disc level
    • outer annular fibres intact
  • extrusion
    • base (a.k.a. neck) narrower than herniation 'dome'
    • may extend above or below endplates or adjacent vertebrae
    • complete annular tear with passage of nuclear material beyond disc annulus
    • disc material can then migrate away from annulus or become sequestered

Herniations can further be classified as:

  • contained
  • not contained
    • tear of outer fibres of annulus fibrosus and posterior longitudinal ligament

See also

  • -<p><strong>Disc herniation</strong> refers to the displacement of <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a> material beyond the normal confines of the disc but involving less than 25% of the circumference (to distinguish it from a <a href="/articles/disc-bulge">disc bulge</a>). A herniation may contain <a href="/articles/nucleus-pulposus">nucleus pulposus</a>, <a href="/articles/vertebral-endplate">vertebral endplate</a> cartilage, apophyseal bone/osteophyte and <a href="/articles/annulus-fibrosus">annulus fibrosus</a>. </p><p>Disc herniations can be divided into groups in a variety of ways. Commonly they are divided into protrusion vs extrusion: </p><ul>
  • +<p><strong>Disc herniation</strong> refers to the displacement of <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a> material beyond the normal confines of the disc but involving less than 25% of the circumference (to distinguish it from a <a href="/articles/disc-bulge">disc bulge</a>). A herniation may contain <a href="/articles/nucleus-pulposus">nucleus pulposus</a>, <a href="/articles/vertebral-endplate">vertebral endplate</a> cartilage, apophyseal bone/<a title="Osteophytes" href="/articles/osteophytes">osteophyte</a> and <a href="/articles/annulus-fibrosus">annulus fibrosus</a>. </p><p>Disc herniations can be divided into groups in a variety of ways. Commonly they are divided into protrusion vs extrusion: </p><ul>

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