[Relation of bulging disc and herniated disc]

Abstract

Fifteen lumbar bulging discs from 23 cadavers were examined by CT and histological technique, and 386 degenerating lesions in lumbar discs were studied if it has any relationship with degenerative diseases of intervertebral discs. Histologically, trasverse, concentric or/and radial tears were found in some anulus fibrosus of bulging discs. Clinically, the coexistence of bulging and hernia was noticed in a lesioned disc, we named it as "bulging and herniated disc", and the relation of which with bulging disc and herniated disc was discussed. This finding will change a well-known opinion that hernia would not occur in a bulging disc. Here bulging and herniated disc would reasonably be considered as one of degeneerative diseases of intervertebral discs.