Familial predisposition for degenerative disc disease. A case-control study

This case-control study was undertaken to determine if relatives of patients who had been admitted for surgery for degenerative disc disease-related problems were at increased risk for lower back pain or sciatica.

To determine if familial factors play a role in placing a person at risk for development of degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

It is known that smoking and various occupational factors can place a person at risk for degenerative disc disease problems. It is not known if a familial predisposition may also exist.

The family members and relatives of 65 patients who had undergone surgery for lumbar degenerative disc disease were interviewed with a standardized questionnaire and compared with a control group of 67 patients who had been admitted to hospital for non-spine-related orthopedic procedures. The same interview and standardized questionnaire was used for both groups by a single observer.

In the study group of 65 patients who had undergone surgery for degenerative disc disease, 44.6% were noted to have a positive family history, whereas 25.4% of the patients in the control group had a positive family history. Eighteen and one-half percent of relatives in the study group had a history of having spinal surgery, compared with only 4.5% of the control group.

The results indicate that a familial predisposition to degenerative disc disease can exist along with other risk factors.