The Effect of Intervertebral Disc Space Narrowing on the Contact Force Between the Nerve Root and a Simulated Disc Protrusion

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bertolini JE ; Miller JAA ; Spencer DL
• Description:
  An instrumented probe mounted on the anterior surface of the lumbar spine over an excised lumbar Intervertebral disc was used to simulate a disc protrusion in 12 fresh cadavers. The contact force between probe and nerve root was measured as a function of two independent variables: probe protrusion depth and disc space height. The contact force on the nerve root was found to increase with increasing probe depth. Disc space widening increased the contact force while narrowing the disc space decreased it. A simple mechanical model analysis confirmed that the force exerted on the nerve root by the probe is the result of tension produced in the nerve root as it is deformed by the probe. The mechanical principle that disc narrowing can reduce the pressure on a nerve root produced by a disc protrusion may be an explanation of how chemonycleolysis relieves sciatic pain. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Musculoskeletal System Nervous System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Disc Protrusion Biomechanics Disc Narrowing Motion Studies Musculoskeletal System Nerve Root Nerves Nerve Tissue Neurological System Root Tension Spinal Cord Disorders

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• ISSN:
  0362-2436
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  422-426
• Volume:
  9
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20060638
• Citation:
  Spine 1984 May-Jun; 9(4):422-426
• Contact Point Address:
  David L. Spencer, MD, University of Illinois Hospital, 901 South Wolcott Avenue, Department of Orthopaedics, Chicago, IL 60612
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1984
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois Chicago Circle, Chicago, Illinois
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19740401
• Source Full Name:
  Spine
• End Date:
  19860831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:7f64185391cd4de25c267baefaf34bcc81312e2e57cb5a37111b71656987dece0fca191e324c31439e13f26642d5318438b2a569fd54506b61e33117a643bf34
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224488/cdc_224488_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 497.00 KB ]