Traumatic lumbar disc herniation: A systemic case review and meta-analysis.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Traumatic lumbar disc herniation (TLDH) without concurrent fracture is uncommon.
• Distinguishing TLDH from degenerative disc herniation is crucial for appropriate management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the diagnostic aspects of TLDH.
• To analyze cases of TLDH with and without associated fractures.

Main Methods:

• A literature review of 12 TLDH cases with MR images since 2009 from PubMed.
• Categorization of cases into those with and without in-situ segment fractures.
• Inclusion of a specific case report detailing TLDH with sequestration and vertebral fracture.

Main Results:

• Isolated TLDH is possible, but requires exclusion of in-situ motion segment fractures.
• Diagnostic considerations emphasize trauma mechanisms and allow for low-grade disc degeneration.

Conclusions:

• Accurate TLDH diagnosis hinges on identifying trauma mechanisms and ruling out associated fractures.
• MR imaging characteristics and potential histological examination aid in diagnosis, particularly for medico-legal purposes.