Herniations of the Lumbar Intervertebral Disk in Children and Adolescents

In 30 cases of surgically documented protrusions of the lumber intervertebral disk in children and adolescents, 14 patients displayed to a greater or lesser degree diagnostic difficulties and 16 patients underwent spinal fusion with laminectomy. Thorough study should be undertaken in all children and adolescents with back pain or sciatica, or both, and a ruptured lumbar intervertebral disk should be a prime consideration. Diagnostic problems are frequently due to the failure of the physician to appreciate this possibility. It is suggested that some cases of "disk space infection" may be herniations of the lumbar intervertebral disk.