Research progress on etiology and treatment of adolescent lumbar disc herniation

Adolescent lumbar disc herniation(ALDH) is clinically rare. Factors such as dysplasia, genetic factors, trauma, spinal sagittal aligment have been suspected as the pathogenesis of ALDH. The clinical features of ALDH are different from adult lumbar disc herniation: typical physical signs with minor complaints, higher proportion of lumbar deformities. ALDH usually involves one segment, presenting central type, and the herniated disc is larger with bone structure.Conservative treatment is suggested for ALDH patients without severe nerve injury. Operative procedures includes non-fusion intervertebral disc resection, lumbar fusion and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy, different procedure would be selected according to the type of herniated disc. Key words: Intervertebral disc displacement; Adolescent; Aetiology; Treatment