Traumatic disc prolapses

Traumatic disc lesions are uncommon not only in lumbar but also in the cervical region. They are, nevertheless, a reality. In adults they occur almost exclusively where there is previous damage to the disc. Therefore, the trauma has always the significance of only transitory, not definitive deterioration in this illness. Such a traumatic effect could be demonstrated in four patients out of 1,771 lumbar disc operations as definite (0.2%) and in 7 patients (0.4%) as possible. In 15 patients (0.9%) the effect remains doubtful. An analysis of the cause of the illness in 600 patients with cervical disc operations showed a definite influence of trauma in 12 (2%) and a possible influence in 10 (1.6%). In 4 patients the effect remains doubtful (0.6%).