The epidemiology and pathophysiology of lumbar disc herniations

Lumbar intervertebral disc herniations are the most common causes for working-age individuals to undergo lumbar spine surgery. Patients with a family history of disc disease or are in physically demanding jobs, or who have certain medical comorbidities such as obesity, are at an increased risk of developing a lumbar disc herniation. Symptomatic herniations present as lumbar radiculopathy from both a mechanical compression and chemical irritation of the nerve root.