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Related Concept Videos

Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction01:29

Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction

Intervertebral disc herniation refers to the displacement of the nucleus pulposus (the gel-like inner core of the disc) through a tear or weakened area in the annulus fibrosus (the outer fibrous ring). The displaced disc material extends beyond the normal boundaries of the disc space and may compress or irritate nearby spinal nerve roots or, less commonly, the spinal cord.Etiology and Risk FactorsHerniation commonly results from degeneration, in which aging reduces disc hydration and...
Spinal Nerves: Plexus II01:21

Spinal Nerves: Plexus II

The plexuses of the lower body include the lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses, which innervate the abdomen, pelvis, legs, and coccygeal region. These plexuses control the transmission of sensory information and coordinate motor functions of the lower body.
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The lumbar plexus is situated within the lumbar region of the back and is primarily formed by the first four lumbar spinal nerves (L1 to L4). This plexus extends its branches into several nerves, including the...
Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

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One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

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Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Degenerative Disc Disease ll: Pathophysiology

The symptoms of degenerative disc disease arise from a combination of mechanical compression, vascular compromise, and biochemical inflammation, which together disrupt nerve function and produce pain.Mechanical CompressionDisc degeneration reduces height and elasticity, predisposing to herniation of the nucleus pulposus, a major cause of radicular pain. Herniations may be protrusion (bulging with intact annulus), extrusion (nucleus extends beyond disc but remains connected), or sequestration...
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Spinal Nerves: Plexus I

Nerve plexuses are networks of interlacing nerves that serve as communication hubs to distribute and organize nerve action across various body regions. The nerve plexuses are organized into the cervical plexus located in the neck region, brachial plexus in the shoulder area, lumbar plexus found in the lower back, sacral plexus situated in the pelvis, and coccygeal plexus located in the coccygeal region.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Chronic Constriction of the Sciatic Nerve and Pain Hypersensitivity Testing in Rats
08:23

Chronic Constriction of the Sciatic Nerve and Pain Hypersensitivity Testing in Rats

Published on: March 13, 2012

Sciatica.

Jean-Pierre Valat1, Stéphane Genevay, Marc Marty

  • 1Rhumatologie, Université François Rabelais, faculté de médecine de Tours, Tours cedex, 10 boulevard Tonnellé, BP 3223, 37032 Tours cedex, France. valat@med.univ-tours.fr

Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology
|March 16, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sciatica is a symptom of nerve root compression or inflammation, often linked to disc herniation. While conservative care is recommended initially, surgical outcomes are comparable to prolonged non-operative treatment in the long term.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Chronic Constriction of the Sciatic Nerve and Pain Hypersensitivity Testing in Rats
08:23

Chronic Constriction of the Sciatic Nerve and Pain Hypersensitivity Testing in Rats

Published on: March 13, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Orthopedics
  • Pain Management

Background:

  • Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis, often caused by nerve root compression and inflammation.
  • Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is implicated in animal models, but its role in human radiculopathy is debated.
  • The term 'sciatica' is often used loosely, encompassing both true radicular pain and referred pain from the lower back, necessitating careful differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and comment on the evidence for various conservative and surgical treatments for sciatica.
  • To highlight the importance of distinguishing radicular pain from referred pain due to differing prognoses and treatments.
  • To discuss the challenges in defining and diagnosing sciatica, impacting prevalence estimates and generalizability of research findings.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on sciatica, including basic science and clinical research.
  • Analysis of the evidence levels for conservative treatments such as patient information, physical therapy, analgesics, and NSAIDs.
  • Evaluation of evidence for corticosteroid injections and surgical interventions like discectomy.

Main Results:

  • Conservative treatment is recommended for the first 6-8 weeks of acute sciatica.
  • Discectomy shows short-term effectiveness, but long-term outcomes are similar to prolonged conservative care.
  • Differentiating radicular pain from referred pain is crucial due to distinct epidemiological and therapeutic profiles, though evidence quality is limited by study heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

  • Shared decision-making is essential for surgical consideration, especially without severe neurological deficits.
  • The term 'sciatica' is imprecise, leading to confusion and varied prevalence rates.
  • Further research with standardized definitions and populations is needed to improve understanding and treatment of sciatica and related radiculopathies.