The parents of sixty-three patients who were less than twenty-one years
old and who had operatively confirmed herniation of a lumbar disc were
interviewed regarding a history of sever back pain, sciatica, and herniated
disc, to determine whether aggregation of herniation of a lumbar disc
occurs in families of patients in this young age-group. The parents of
sixty-three additional patients who had a non-spinal orthopaedic diagnosis
(control group) were matched for age and sex with the study group and were
given the same interview. Of the patients who had herniation of a lumbar
disc and were less than twenty-one years old, 32 per cent had a positive
family history for that lesion compared with 7 per cent of the control
group. The relative risk of development of herniation of a lumbar disc
before the age of twenty-one years is estimated to be approximately five
times greater in patients who have a positive family history. The results
indicate a familial basis for herniation of a lumbar disc in patients who
are less than twenty-one years old.