Lumbar Disc Disease - Etiology, Clinical and Diagnostic Features

Degenerative disc disease is one of the most common causes of low back pain. Lumbar disc disease has a polyetiological nature. There are multiple risk factors underlying the disease (mechanical, genetic, trophic, environmental, etc.) that, individually or in combination, are responsible for the development of this irreversible process. The most common clinical manifestations associated with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine are local and radicular pain, neurological symptoms (changes in sensation and motor deficit), and functional disorders. For the diagnosis of intervertebral disc degeneration, non-invasive methods, including functional assessment, instrumental methods (MRI, CT), pain questionnaires, and serum biomarkers, are mainly used in practice. Aim : The aim of this review is to reveal the etiological factors leading to the occurrence of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, as well as to discuss the main clinical manifestations of the disease and diagnostic methods. Materials and Methods: This article summarizes information from various databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect on the etiological factors, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic methods of lumbar disc disease. Results: The direct action of multiple risk factors for the development of lumbar disc disease has been established. The specific clinical characteristics of the disease are revealed, and the most commonly used diagnostic methods are described. Conclusion: In-depth knowledge of the etiological factors, their mechanisms of action, and the specific symptoms of lumbar disc disease enables more accurate diagnosis, thus ensuring faster recovery for patients.