Abstract
Objective
Recurrent lumbar disc hernia (RLDH) is a common and challenging complication after an initial discectomy. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the histopathologic outcomes of the initial and recurrent disc tissues.
Methods
This study investigated 70 patients who underwent a microdiscectomy and subsequently developed same-level same-side lumbar disc herniation (LDH) recurrence. The clinic, western blot, and immunohistochemical evaluations of patients with initial LDH and RLDH were conducted and statistically analyzed.
Results
The effect of inflammation and apoptosis in the degenerative changes of intervertebral disc hernia and increased histopathologic findings in RLDH was demonstrated. The degeneration of the hernia disc tissue is a major pathological process, which is characterized by cellular apoptosis, inflammation, and reduced synthesis of extracellular matrix. Currently, there is no clinical therapy targeting the reversal of disc degeneration.
Conclusions
This, therefore, stay away from factors that increase inflammation in the intervention of intervertebral disc hernia, applying to reduce inflammation the medicines, could allow reducing disc collagen degeneration, and more successful outcomes. These findings might shed some new lights on the mechanism of disc degeneration and provide new strategies for the treatments of initial and recurrent LDH.
Disclosure statement
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Data availability statement
If you want further data, it is available data from all authors.