Study: Most Herniated Discs Result from Avulsion, Not Rupture

According to a study reported in Spine, herniated discs in the lower spine often are the result of separation of the tissue between the disc and spinal bone — not the rupture of the disc itself. The finding suggests that surgeons may need to address the vertebral end plate junction’s (EPJ’s) failure as the main cause of herniated lumbar discs. The evidence of EPJ failure opens up opportunities for prevention, repair and biological strategies that may prevent progression of lumbar disc herniation after the initial event of EPJ avulsion,” researchers say. Click here to read the full article.