Information for Patients

From the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Los Dolores de la Espalda Inferior (Low back pain)

L5-S1 Disc Degeneration

by D. Greg Anderson, MD; Todd Albert, MD

Disk degeneration is a ubiquitous process found in almost everyone by the seventh decade. Fortunately, the majority of patients have either no symptoms or symptoms that are mild or resolve with time. The small proportion of patients with symptoms related to disk degeneration, however, make up a significant proportion of those seeking care in the spine surgeon's office. Management of the symptoms should begin with a focused history and physical examination. Nonoperative management is the mainstay for most degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine. Surgical therapy for degenerative conditions of the lumbar spine should be well designed to address the underlying pathology and meet the goals of the surgeon and patient.

This article reviews the pathophysiology and clinical presentaion of L5-S1 disc degeneration, as well as surgical and nonsurgical treament options. Three surgical techniques are reviewed in detail, including anterior lumbar interbody fusion, posterior lumbar interbody fusion, and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. Video is available.

Keywords: low back pain, spondylosis, discogenic low back pain, disk herniation, degenerative spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, degenerative scoliosis, degenerative disk disease, incidence, etiology, diagnosis, patient history, physical examination, imaging, radiography, MRI, CT, myelography, differential diagnosis, management, nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatment, surgical techniques, anterior lumbar interbody fusion, ALIF, posterior lumbar interbody fusion, PLIF, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion, TLIF, indications, contraindications, outcomes, complications, rehabilitation

If you are an AAOS Member or an OKO subscriber, you can view this topic after log in.

If you are a health care professional who is not an AAOS Member or OKO subscriber, you can get more information about subscribing here. Information for patients and the general public can be accessed through the links in the gray box above.

Back to Menu