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Extruded Disc
An extruded disc is another name for a
ruptured disc
and is further broken down in extruded contained and extruded uncontained. In a disc extrusion, the inner
nucleus pulposus
actually breaks through an opening in the
annulus fibrosus
called an annular tear. All possible variations of extrusions are still considered to be types of
herniated discs.
Contained Extruded Disc
Contained extrusions are really just severe herniations in which the inner nucleus material begins to leak out of the outer disc wall. However, the nucleus material does not separate from the disc structure and the entire disc remains in one (badly damaged) piece. Extrusions generally might be more symptomatic than
disc bulges
when they first occur, especially if they are caused by trauma, rather than simple degeneration. Contained extrusions can enact pain through the processes of
spinal stenosis,
foraminal stenosis
or
chemical radiculitis.
However, most contained extrusions are completely asymptomatic or only temporarily symptomatic.
Uncontained Disc Extrusion
An uncontained extrusion is also sometimes called a sequestered disc. This means that the inner nucleus which leaked out of the outer disc wall has separated completely from the disc structure and became free to move about inside the body. Although this spilled nucleus typically does not go very far, sequestered discs are often blamed for causing a greater percentage of chemical radiculitis symptoms than contained ruptures. In time, both contained and uncontained extrusions can calcify, often stabilizing the disc and preventing further degeneration.
Extruded Disc Advice
Ruptured discs sound about as scary as a diagnosis can be. However, there is little proof that they are any more dangerous or painful than bulging discs. Many people experience a rupture due to normal spinal degeneration and never even know about the disc damage. Other people suffer a spontaneous rupture from extreme trauma and typically experience pain (which might be very severe at times…) for 6 to 8 weeks. Most extrusions, like other forms of herniations, resolve without formal medical treatment or with conservative
back care
practices.
Herniated disc surgery
should be avoided if at all possible, since operations generally demonstrate poor results for permanently ending disc pain in most patients.
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