[Autopsy evaluation of the extent of degeneration of the lumbar intervertebral discs].

The aim of study was to evaluate the degree of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration during post-mortem studies, and its relation to the age and gender of cadavers. The changes of intervertebral disc were classified according to Nachemson [13]. The study included 308 lumbar intervertebral discs taken during autopsy from 57 females (mean age 41.83) and 79 males (mean age 42.06). Two hundred and forty discs showed degenerative changes. The statistic analysis revealed that the degeneration is more pronounced with age (ANOVA p < 0.05). The study demonstrated that in males degeneration occurs a decade earlier than in females, and could be observed in the second decade of life. Similarly, the degeneration of 3rd or 4th grade could be observed a decade earlier in men than in women. The statistical analysis revealed the differences (p < 0.05) in degeneration between upper (levels L2 and L3), and lower (levels L4 and L5) lumbar spine. Analysing the discs as single levels, no statistical differences in degeneration were observed.