Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation in the young.

A survey of 37 young patients, 10 to 18 years of age, with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation is presented. Local physical findings and limitation in straight-leg raising are often more marked in the young than in adults, whereas pain may be slight or even absent. Neurological findings were normal in 40 per cent of the cases, and when deficits were found, they were usually of a minor nature. Herniated disc syndrome in children and adolescents is characteristic and should not be difficult to recognize. With surgical treatment good results were obtained in nearly all cases.