Effect of intervertebral disc disease on scoliosis in the lumbar spine

Lumbar intervertebral discopathy is a common clinical problem and a significant cause of low back pain. Usually it is associated with overload and damage to the intervertebral disc, which directly relates to the instability of the motion segment. Renal normal anatomy between tissues within the spinal canal is a cause of the reflex curvature of the spine, the goal is to increase the volume of the spinal channel and reduce the compression of the nerve tissue. Knee-jerk reaction to pain is an non physiological change of the setting of the spine in the frontal plane.

The aim of the study was to establish the relationship of migration of the intervertebral disc with reflex scoliosis in the lumbar region in patients with lumbar disc herniation.

Material and methods. The studies involved 78 patients aged 18-55 years with damaged intervertebral disc with annulus fibrosus of the bulge in the posterior-lateral direction. The study used multi-row spiral CT scanner.

Results. In the patients, reflex lateral curvature was observed. The angle of scoliosis was measured with Cobb method; it did not exceed 10 degrees. It was also established that spontaneously the shallowing of lumbar lordosis and vertical alignment of the sacrum occured.

Conclusion. The study shows that in most patients diagnosed with lateral migration of the intervertebral disc there develops a slight lateral curvature of the spine, which is a reflex reaction of axial musculoskeletal to discogenic pain.