RADIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS OF LUMBAR OSTEOCHONDROSIS IN YOUNG PEOPLE

Abstract

The article presents data on the results of radiological examination of 85 patients with clinical and neurological signs of lumbar osteochondrosis. Of these, 31 were adolescents (17-21 years old) (group I), 54 were young (22-44 years old) (group II). In group I, protrusion was diagnosed in 18.1% of discs, hernia - in 5.8% of discs (P<0.001), and in group II - in 27.9% and 17.0% of discs (p<0.01), respectively. Protrusion and hernia were registered reliably (p<0.05 and p<0.001) more often in young age than in adolescence. The radiological symptom of decreased intervertebral space height was observed in 77.5% of protrusion cases and in 85.2% of hernia cases, when their direct visualization by ultrasound was observed in 96.1% and 96.3% of cases (p<0.001 and p<0.05). At the L5-S1 and L4-L5 levels, the frequency of protrusion and hernia did not differ significantly. At the L3-L4 level, protrusion was observed in 15.7%, hernia in 5.6% of cases (p<0.05). The sensitivity of ultrasound in diagnosing hernia was 96.2%, specificity - 100.0%, accuracy - 96.3%. Comparison of radiation methods of examination in diagnostics of lumbar osteochondrosis showed that ultrasound has an advantage over radiography and the same capabilities as MRI. Detection of disc protrusion and hernia among adolescents indicates the onset of osteochondrosis development long before their diagnosis.