The Unique Characteristics of “Upper” Lumbar Disc Herniations

Abstract

Herniated discs at the L1-L2 or L2-L3 level are different entities from those at lower levels of the lumbar spine. The surgical outcome in terms of postoperative back and radicular pain is worse for herniated discs at L1-L2 and L2-L3 compared with those treated at L3-L4. Our patients with L1-L2 or L2-L3 surgically treated herniated discs were more likely to have had previous lumbar surgery and required a fusion more often than their counterparts with L3-L4 herniated discs.