- We will explain about hernia.
What is hernia ?
Hernias are a very popular aftereffects of traffic accidents. At the same time, they are likely to cause problems related to the accident and require careful attention.
Describe the cervical disc herniation and the lumbar disc herniation that are common among herniated vertebrae.
Cervical disc herniation
The cervical vertebrae consist of seven vertebral bodies superimposed on each other to form the bone of the neck that connects the head to the trunk.Each cervical vertebra moves anteroposteriorly, laterally, and is connected to the vertebral disc between the vertebral bodies of the upper and lower bones.The intervertebral disc is between the vertebral bodies and it plays a role of cushion.
For the structure of the intervertebral disc, please imagine something like a Baumkuchen or annual rings.At the center of the disc is a gelatinous nucleus pulposus surrounded by an annual ring of fibers.
In general, hernia refers to a state in which the intervertebral disc has changed with age, the annulus fibrosus has ruptured, and the nucleus pulposus and the inner annulus have escaped into the spinal canal of the cervical spine.Regardless of traffic accidents, this condition is common in men and women in their 30s to 50s and can occur in their 20s if they are playing wrestling, sumo, judo, or rugby.
However, even if the nucleus pulposus escapes into the spinal canal, it does not immediately cause pain or discomfort.When the prolapsed nucleus pulposus presses on nerves, pain, sensory disturbances, and muscle weakness occur.In a traffic accident, for example, it may cause a hernia when a person who had been seated in a front seat is forcefully struck by a mirror or a front window glass to the cervical spine due to a collision on the back of the car, resulting in a severe impact on the cervical spine.
However, the incidence is limited to cases in which the impact of the accident is considerable. In general, it is not considered to occur in a follow-up accident in which the cost of repairing a car is about 500,000 yen to 600,000 yen.It is unlikely that a causal relationship between a hernia and an accident will be recognized unless a follow-up accident involving a repair costs more than 1,500,000 yen.
Lumbar disc herniation
Similarly, lumbar disc herniation is a condition in which the intervertebral disc degenerates due to aging, and disc tissue presses on nerve roots and cauda equina nerves, resulting in low back pain and leg pain.
Severe sensory and motor deficits in both legs, dysuria, and painful claudication may occur.Traffic accidents are believed to occur when there is a very large impact, as is the case with a herniated cervical disc.