This monograph analyses all aspects related to the etiopathogenesis, pathomorphology, diagnosis and treatment of lumbar disc herniation. It includes 24 chapters, over 500 illustrations, partly in colour, and 2800 bibliographic entries, going from the historical to the most recent ones. Five chapters are dedicated to biological and pathomorphologic aspects both of lumbar disc herniation and the conditions most often associated with herniation. The etiopathogenesis is analysed in the light of the most significant and recent studies. Five chapters deal with the clinical presentation and diagnostic tests in an extremely wide and detailed way. Large space is reserved to conservative management. The chapters on invasive treatments and on the results and complications of surgery define the advantages and limitations of the old and new percutaneous or surgical treatments. Two chapters are dedicated to surgical management of patients with spinal conditions associated with herniation, and two other deal with the surgical failure. This monograph is aimed at satisfying the requirements of both experts and young doctors. Some chapters are of particular interest to the spine specialist, whilst others are useful to the novice to acquire a general knowledge of the subject.

Up until two decades ago, clinical interest in the etiopathogenetic interpretation of lumbo-radicular syndromes was prevalently concentrated on the pathology of the inter vertebral disc. This vision gradually changed and grew as a result of the affirmation of the concept of pathological narrowing of the osteoligamentous vertebral canal as a cause of compression of the lumbar nervous structures. Finally, in the last ten years, lumbar stenosis has become more and more a subject of current interest not only as a result of problems related to nosography, diagnosis, and therapy, but also as a result of the increasing frequency with which vertebral canal or nerve root canal stenosis syndromes are recognized and treated. At the same time there was a tendency to include in stenotic pathology other pathological conditions responsible for lumbo-radicular syndromes. This led to dilation of the concept of stenosis, which perhaps no longer responded to reality, and which was not useful from a practical point of view. The need to define stenotic pathology and to correctly locate it within the vast field of lumbar pathology inspired the writing of this volume. This monograph gathers many diagnostic and therapeutic concepts matured at our In stitution over the years. Some of these concepts have already been defined in scientific meet ings or in publications."