Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with lumbar disc disease may present with low back pain, pain that radiates down to the lower extremity (radiculopathy), and leg pain that increases with ambulation (neurogenic claudication). Patients may first undergo diagnostic studies (magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomographic examinations) to determine whether there is any significant nerve root or thecal sac compression. METHODS: Increasingly, patients with low back pain with/without radiculopathy are being screened by nurses rather than by neurologists or neurosurgeons/orthopedists. Recognition of the basic neurological symptoms and signs of lumbar disc disease is critical to manage and triage these patients. RESULTS: The neurological examination includes evaluation of the straight leg raising test (SLR/Lasegue Maneuver) and assessment of: motor function [grade 0 (no motion) to grade 5 (normal motion)], reflexes [Patellar and Achilles levels graded 0 (absent) to grade 4+ (clonus)], sensory loss (pin prick, light touch, position, and vibration), and cerebellar function (tandem gait, heel-shin, and finger-nose-finger testing). Learning to read MR and CT studies for disc herniations is critical. Nonsurgical discs include those that are minimally protruding or bulging. Alternatively, surgical disc herniations when correlated with significant neurological findings are extruded (ruptured through the annulus) or sequestrated (migrated beyond the disc space following rupture). CONCLUSIONS: Familiarity with symptoms, neurological signs, and radiographic presentations for patients with lumbar disc disease is critical for nurses. Here, we review the important factors nurses should know to better recognize, triage, and treat patients with lumbar disc disease.