Trend of the incidence of lumbar disc herniation: decreasing with aging in the elderly

Abstract

Background

Compelling evidence has shown that the incidence of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) increases with age. In this study, retrospective clinical analysis of 601 cases of LDH has been conducted to investigate the role of age in the incidence of LDH in the elderly. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between the process of aging and the occurrence of LDH in old adults.

Methods

Clinical cases (n = 601) of LDH were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The imaging examination with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging showed the occurrence of degeneration in LDH patients over 65 years of age. The most common site of LDH is toward the bottom of the spine at L4–L5 and/or L5–S1. The incidence of LDH drops with age in the elderly, especially after the age of 80 years. There is an obvious decrease in LDH in the elderly female.

Conclusion

A decreasing incidence of LDH with aging occurs in the elderly. This investigation indicates that aging is not a contributor to the performance of LDH in the elderly although the incidence of LDH is proportional to age.

Keywords:

• lumbar disc herniation
• incidence
• aging

Introduction

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH), where the most common site is toward the bottom of the spine at L4–L5 or L5–S1 (95%), makes up the vast majority of spinal disc herniation cases.^1,2 LDH occurs when the nucleus in the center of the disc pushes out of its normal space. The nucleus presses against the annulus, causing the disc to bulge outward. With further progress, the nucleus herniates completely through the annulus and squeezes out of the disc, placing pressure on the spinal canal or nerve roots.³ In addition, the nucleus releases chemicals that can irritate the surrounding nerves causing inflammation and pain.^4–6 General symptoms of LDH include one, or a combination, of the following: (1) typical sciatica symptoms such as numbness, weakness, and/or tingling in the leg and/or foot, leg and/or foot pain, lower back pain, and/or pain in the buttock; and (2) loss of bladder or bowel control, indicating a serious medical condition called cauda equina syndrome.

Normally, daily activities cause the nucleus to press against the annulus. This pressure is not sufficient to cause disease. However, the annulus tends to crack and tear with age and degeneration. With weakness in the annulus, the nucleus may begin to herniate (squeeze) through the damaged annulus. The pressure bulges the annulus outward in the beginning. Eventually, the nucleus herniates completely through the outer ring of the disc. Therefore, it seems that aging is a risk factor and a contributor to the incidence of LDH, which increases with age.^7–9 However, our clinical investigation has recently demonstrated that the trend of the incidence of LDH decreases with aging in the elderly population.

Methods

Clinical data and analysis

Subjects (n = 601) aged over 65 years with LDH were included. In this study, all data from January 2006 to April 2013 were collected from the Rehabilitation Department of Lu’an People’s Hospital. This study was approved by the research ethics board of Lu’an People’s Hospital. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Diagnoses were determined by trained rehabilitation therapists based on the 2012 ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Code 722.10 (displacement of lumbar intervertebral disc without myelopathy). The comprehensive diagnostic process included medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. Ruling out other problems such as a tumor or infection, computed tomography scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging were performed to confirm the LDH diagnosis.^10,11 Finally, retrospective clinical analysis of 601 cases of LDH has been conducted.

Results

Tables 1 and 2 demonstrated that the clinical presentation of LDH patients is diverse according to the investigation of symptoms, signs, and imaging data. Almost all patients had lumbar vertebrae or paravertebral tenderness. Pain mainly presented in the unilateral leg and/or as lower back pain, accompanied by lumbar motion restriction and sensory disturbances. The imaging examination with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging manifested the occurrence of degeneration, including spinal stenosis, osteoporosis, vertebral hyperostosis, calcification, and the disappearance of the spine’s physiological curvature. In addition, these data indicated that the most common site of LDH is toward the bottom of the spine at L4–L5 and/or L5–S1. In general, Table 3 demonstrated that the incidence of LDH decreases with age in the elderly, especially after 80 years old. There is an obvious decrease in the elderly female (Figure 1). Tables 4–6 showed that the aging factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes) have no contribution to the incidence of LDH in the elderly.

Table 1 Clinical symptoms and signs

Symptoms or signs	Cases	Percentage (%)
Intervertebral and/or paravertebral tenderness	576	96.3
Unilateral leg and/or lower back pain	540	89.8
Lower extremity pain	156	25.9
Radzikowski sign	538	89.5
Weakness of foot hallux dorsiflexion	336	55.9
Foot drop	93	15.4
Intermittent claudication	237	39.4
Sensory disturbance	378	62.5

Table 2 Imaging feature and distribution

Imaging feature	Cases	Percentage (%)
Hyperostosis	601	100.00
Bulge or herniation at L3–L4	189	31.4
Bulge or herniation at L4–L5	228	37.9
Bulge or herniation at L5–S1	268	44.5
Bulge or herniation at L3–L4 and L4–L5	301	50.0
Bulge or herniation at L4–L5 and L5–S1	481	80.0
Bulge or herniation at L3–L4, L4–L5, and L5–S1	297	49.4
Left side bulge or herniation	329	54.7
Right side bulge or herniation	227	37.7
Central bulge or herniation	45	7.5
Spinal stenosis	159	26.4
Calcification	79	13.1
Osteoporosis	204	33.9

Abbreviations: L, lumbar; S, sacrum.

Table 3 Age distribution of patients with lumbar disc herniation

	Age distribution (years)						N
	65–70	71–75	76–80	81–85	86–90	91–95
Male	111	69	78	43	24	1	326
Female	92	68	56	36	22	1	275

Table 4 Hypertension complication of patients with lumbar disc herniation

	Age distribution (years)
	65–70	71–75	76–80	81–85	86–90	91–95
LDH	203	137	134	79	46	2
LDH + hypertension	102 (50.3%)	69 (50.2%)	66 (49.4%)	38 (52.1%)	22 (52.2%)	1 (50.0%)
P-value	0.0912	0.0824	0.0832	0.0928	0.0835

Note: There is no difference in hypertension percentage between each age group.

Abbreviation: LDH, lumbar disc herniation.

Table 5 Hyperlipidemia complication of patients with lumbar disc herniation

	Age distribution (years)
	65–70	71–75	76–80	81–85	86–90	91–95
LDH	203	137	134	79	46	2
LDH + hyperlipidemia	78 (38.4%)	54 (39.4%)	53 (39.5%)	32 (40.5%)	31 (45.6%)	0
P-value	0.0846	0.0918	0.0903	0.0726	–

Note: There is no significant change for the percentage of hyperlipidemia complication between each age group of patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Abbreviation: LDH, lumbar disc herniation.

Table 6 Diabetic complication of patients with lumbar disc herniation

	Age distribution (years)
	65–70	71–75	76–80	81–85	86–90	91–95
LDH	4	137	134	79	46	2
LDH + diabetes	41 (0.9%)	33 (24.0%)	25 (18.6%)	17 (21.5%)	9 (19.5%)	0
P-value	0.0756	0.0632	0.0780	0.0796	–

Note: There is no significant change in the percentage of diabetic complication between each age group of patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Abbreviation: LDH, lumbar disc herniation.

Figure 1 Age distribution of patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Discussion

Our clinical investigation has shown that the clinical presentation of LDH patients was diverse and that the most common site of LDH is toward the bottom of the spine at L4–L5 and/or L5–S1. Contrary to past reports that the incidence of LDH increases with aging, this study has found that the incidence of LDH has a downward trend with aging in the elderly, especially after 80 years old.

Abnormal activities, such as repetitive bending, twisting, and lifting, can increase abnormal pressure on the nucleus of the disc and injure the annulus, leading to herniation.^3,12 LDH occurs as a result of sudden stress, such as from an accident. Poor posture and incorrect lifestyle can place additional stress on the lumbar spine.^13,14 With aging, discs gradually dry out, lose their strength and resiliency, and easily induce the occurrence of herniation.^9,15,16 However, our clinical investigation has implicated that the incidence of LDH decreases with aging in the elderly population, especially after 80 years old. Furthermore, there is no relationship between the incidence of LDH in the elderly and the age contributing factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes). Accordingly, we hypothesized that the volume and inflammation of the nucleus gets lesser since degeneration contributes to atrophy of the nucleus with the aging process. Thus, the pressure from the nucleus will become gradually less, with the result being lower incidence of annulus injury and occurrence of LDH, especially after 80 years old. It seems that the inflammatory effect of the nucleus is stronger than degeneration, and the incidence of LDH is greater before 80 years of age.

Based on the previous discussion, age plays a dual role in LDH pathogenesis. This investigation further suggests that surgery is not preferred in elderly patients with LDH. If it is not a case of acute nerve and spinal cord compression, nonoperative treatment will be used with elderly patients of LDH, such as physical therapy and pain medications.^17–19 Old adults usually have more herniated disc levels (mostly protrusions). It is better that old adult patients with LDH are treated in a rehabilitation center if they present with degenerative changes. As age progresses, the volume of the nucleus becomes smaller, and the pressure from the nucleus is less. This study also provides new consideration for the future treatment of LDH in the elderly population.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the clinic staff in the Lu’an Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University for their dedication and hard work, and all patients and volunteers for their collaboration.

Disclosure

All authors report no conflict of interest in this work.