Lumbar Disk Herniations and Radiculopathy in Athletes

Paul R Gause; Ryan J Godinsky; Keven S Burns; Edward J Dohring

doi:10.1016/j.csm.2021.04.001

Lumbar Disk Herniations and Radiculopathy in Athletes

Clin Sports Med. 2021 Jul;40(3):501-511. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2021.04.001.

Authors

Paul R Gause¹, Ryan J Godinsky², Keven S Burns², Edward J Dohring²

Affiliations

¹ Spine Institute of Arizona, 9735 North 90th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, USA. Electronic address: PaulG@SpineAZ.com.
² Spine Institute of Arizona, 9735 North 90th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, USA.

PMID: 34051943
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2021.04.001

Abstract

Lumbar disk herniation is the most common surgical condition of the spine. High-level athletes participate in activities that place extreme loads on the intervertebral disks. These repetitive loads may lead to an elevated risk for degenerative disk disease, which in turn predisposes to disk herniations. Treatment algorithms for athletes with disk herniations are similar to those in the nonathletic population; however, success in the athletic population is often measured in the ability to return to play. Both nonoperative and operative treatment show a high success rate in return to play in athletes treated for disk herniations.

Keywords: Athlete; Lumbar disc herniation; Lumbar disk herniation; Microdiskectomy; Radiculopathy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Athletic Injuries / complications
Athletic Injuries / diagnosis*
Athletic Injuries / therapy*
Humans
Intervertebral Disc Displacement / complications
Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnosis*
Intervertebral Disc Displacement / therapy*
Lumbar Vertebrae / injuries*
Radiculopathy / etiology*
Radiculopathy / therapy
Return to Sport