Autonomic and Motor Involvement among the Patients Presented with Prolapse Lumbar Intervertebral Disc

Abstract

Background: Involvement of autonomic and motor nervous system are very crucial for the patients suffering from prolapse lumbar intervertebral disc.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to see the involvement of autonomic and motor nervous system of the patients suffering from prolapse lumbar intervertebral disc.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the department of Neurosurgery at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from March 2006 to October 2007 for a period of one and half year. Prolapse lumbar intervertebral disc (PLID) patients who were admitted in the Department Neurosurgery at BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh after clinical and radiological evaluation were selected as study population. The involvement of autonomic and motor nervous system were examined among the patients suffering from prolapse lumbar intervertebral disc.

Result: A total of 59 hospital-admitted cases of PLID were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 40.8±11.9 years and the lowest and highest ages were 21 and 65 years respectively. Majority of the patients had intact bladder function which was 57(94.9%) cases and the remaining 2(3.4%) cases had incontinence of urine. More than half (54.2%) of the subjects exhibited weak extensor hallucis longus test, while 30.5% had weak flexor digitalis longus test.

Conclusion: In conclusion motor dysfunction is very high, but low rate of autonomic abnormalities are found among the patients suffering from prolapse lumbar intervertebral disc.

Journal of Science Foundation, January 2020;18(1):3-6