THE ROLE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS HERNIA IN YOUNG PEOPLE

Abstract

The article provides information on the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of the cervical and lumbar intervertebral discs (IVD) hernia. Ultrasound results were analyzed in 538 patients aged 18-27 years with clinical and neurological signs of cervical (262) and lumbar (276) osteochondrosis. MRI revealed a hernia of cervical IVD in 27 (10.3%) and lumbar hernias in 31 (11.2%) patients. The cervical hernia was more often diagnosed at the level of C5-C6 (11 cases, 40.7%) and C4-C5 (9 cases, 33.3%), the lumbar hernia – at the level of L4-L5 (in 15 cases, 48.4%) and L5-S1 (in 12 cases, 38.7%). In 15 (55.6%) patients, cervical disc herniation was paramedian, in 7 (25.9%) – posterolateral, and in 5 (18.5%) – median. The lumbar paramedian hernia was developed in 18 (58.1%), posterolateral in 4 (12.9%) and median in 9 (29.0%) patients. Asymmetry of the radicular canals was observed in 19 (70.4%) cases of the cervical and in 18 (58.1%) cases of lumbar osteochondrosis. Cervical radiculopathy occurred in 6 (85.7%) cases of posterolateral and in 8 (53.3%) cases of paramedian hernia, and lumbar radiculopathy in 4 (100%) and 11 (61.1%) cases, respectively. The results of the study showed that ultrasonography can be used as an independent method for the diagnosis of cervical and lumbar discs hernia in young people. In the cervical discs, a hernia is more often diagnosed at the level of C5-C6 and C4-C5, and in the lumbar discs – L4-L5 and L5-S1, and in most cases has paramedian localization. The posterolateral localization of the hernia is often accompanied by the clinical symptoms of radiculopathy.