Lumbar Disc Herniation Cases in Herat Regional Hospital in 2021

Abstract

Background and Objective: Lumbar disc herniation is the most common reason for spine surgery in the working-age population. Understanding the epidemiological pattern of lumbar disc herniation helps identify predisposing factors for this type of injury. Since epidemiological studies on lumbar disc herniation surgery in Afghanistan are scarce, the aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiological aspects of these cases in the neurosurgical department of Herat city.
 Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from March 2021 to March 2022 at the regional hospital in Herat, data on demographic information, occupation, symptoms, and complications related to lumbar disc herniation surgery were collected and analyzed for 68 patients.
 Results: The findings indicate that the majority of lumbar disc herniation surgeries occurred in individuals over 30 years of age (70.6%) and among males (66.2%), with about two-thirds of cases (69.1%) occurring in construction workers. Based on the results, 76.4% of the cases involved the L4-L5 vertebral level, and 88.2% of patients, in addition to lower back pain, experienced sensory disturbances in their legs. Although the majority of patients (89.7%) had no complications, the most significant complication among the patients was urinary incontinence (5.9%).
 Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the higher prevalence of lumbar disc herniation surgeries in specific age and gender groups. Public and healthcare worker education regarding the factors and risks of lumbar disc herniation could be beneficial. Conducting broader studies nationwide to determine the exact occurrences and complications of lumbar disc herniation is crucial.