Disc herniation
Last revised by Calum Worsley on 29 Apr 2022
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Gaillard F, Worsley C, Baba Y, et al. Disc herniation. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Mar 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6191
rID:
6191
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosures
Last revised:
29 Apr 2022,
Calum Worsley ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Calum Worsley had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Calum Worsley's current disclosures
Revisions:
26 times, by
11 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Herniated disc
- Disc herniations
- Disk herniation
- Disk herniations
- Herniation of the disc
- Herniation of the disk
- Herniated disk
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 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 fibers 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
- with intact outer fibers of annulus fibrosus and posterior longitudinal ligament, or
- with intact posterior longitudinal ligament alone
- not contained
- tear of outer fibers of annulus fibrosus and posterior longitudinal ligament
See also
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. Dora C, Schmid MR, Elfering A et-al. Lumbar disk herniation: do MR imaging findings predict recurrence after surgical diskectomy?. Radiology. 2005;235 (2): 562-7. doi:10.1148/radiol.2352040624 - Pubmed citation
- 2. Buy X, Gangi A. Percutaneous treatment of intervertebral disc herniation. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2010;27 (02): 148-59. doi:10.1055/s-0030-1253513 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
- 3. Pouriesa M, Fouladi RF, Mesbahi S. Disproportion of end plates and the lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Spine J. 2013;13 (4): 402-7. doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2012.11.047 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Diehn FE, Maus TP, Morris JM et-al. Uncommon Manifestations of Intervertebral Disk Pathologic Conditions. Radiographics. 2016;36 (3): 801-23. doi:10.1148/rg.2016150223 - Pubmed citation
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Cases:
- Disc herniation nomenclature - axial
- Herniated disc - location
- L4-L5 right sub-articular disc protrusion
- Lumbar disc herniation with caudal migration
- Disc nomenclature - annular fissures
- Disc extrusion
- Calcified disc herniation
- Six lumbar type vertebrae
- Extramedullary haematopoiesis - presacral soft tissue mass
- Spinal epidural lipomatosis
- Extraforaminal disc extrusion
- Dorsal epidural disc migration
- Disc extrusion
- Extraforaminal disc protrusion
- Incidental colonic carcinoma
- Lumbar disc protrusion
- Extradural spinal CSF leak
- Lumbar disc sequestration
- Ventrolateral lumbar disc herniation with psoas oedema
- Limbus vertebra
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