Pediatric Disc Herniation

  • Etiology: occurs after an exertion and is traumatic not degenerative in nature
  • Radiograph: normal, no degenerative disk space narrowing
  • MRI: asymmetric extradural defect, may occur with herniation of some vertebral growth plate which is termed “slipped vertebral apophysis”, larger in size than adults because small tear in annulus can cause large amount of tissue to extrude
  • Clinical: rare in prepubertal children, increasing in adolescents (athletes)

Radiology Cases of Disc Herniation

MRI of disc herniation
Sagittal and axial (at the L5 level) T1 MRI without contrast of the lumbar spine shows central and posterior displacement of the L5 intervertebral disk.